The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law - Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, in concluding today’s debate, a few matters.

¶ 02 It is evident that some are hurt by this Budget—namely, the Opposition—while the people have warmly embraced it. In past Budgets, the Police Department under my Ministry had heavy work at Polduwa Junction; even MPs had to use side gates due to protests. This time, after the Budget, the atmosphere was calm—because the people have accepted it.

¶ 03 Hon. Hector Appuhamy raised many points. First, he said fisheries allocations were not divided equally. I asked the Deputy Minister—he is here—and he said, “You cannot build a fishery harbour in Kandy.” These things cannot be divided mechanically; funds are directed where harbours exist and development is feasible.

¶ 04 On vehicles: at least be happy that, after six years, the NPP government has decided to reopen imports. If there is no malice, be modestly pleased.

¶ 05 A very important statistical point in the President’s speech caught my attention. I asked the Deputy Finance Minister whether it was accurate or a printing error. It is accurate. Under the President’s Vote, recurrent expenditure falls from Rs. 4,053 million in 2024 to Rs. 2,546 million in 2025—nearly halved; and capital expenditure from Rs. 34,547 million in 2024 to Rs. 454 million this time. This demonstrates how the NPP President operates. We are pleased.

¶ 06 On passports under my Ministry: we have allocated significant funds to rebuild services. Under Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government, queues were endless. Now, through an online system and same‑day service, people can obtain passports on the day they come. We have made it a 24‑hour service; the queues have disappeared.

¶ 07 Hon. Namal Rajapaksa and Hon. Hector Appuhamy expressed grief over the shooting at the Magistrate’s Court today. We are saddened too. But those who normalised political killings for 90 days in power now point fingers, asking “where is national security?” On 02 January 2023, under Ranil Wickremesinghe, court proceedings were held only after the premises were cleared with police dogs and other measures. Subsequently, that magistrate concluded those practices, and since then the situation remained as it was. We regret this incident, but the suspect shooter has now been arrested in Puttalam; the agencies are acting swiftly.

¶ 08 We must also investigate the Muddheniya killing to learn who was behind it; contracts under the Rajapaksas were discussed even by the victims’ associates online. Those killed are now angry with the Rajapaksas; therefore, we must probe who is behind such killings.

¶ 09 Witness tampering has become a culture and is a major problem for the Attorney‑General’s Department. In cases like Lasantha Wickrematunge’s murder and Prageeth Eknaligoda’s abduction, evidence has disappeared; likewise in Thajudeen’s case. Who stands behind these? Fingers point to the Rajapaksas—who today parade as patriots.

¶ 10 Hon. Presiding Member (The Hon. Presiding Member)

¶ 11 Hon. Minister, you have two more minutes.