Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, today an unfortunate incident occurred: the Chairman of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha has been shot dead. Now his funeral and related matters are being circulated on Facebook and YouTube. He won the Midigama division and was lawfully appointed Chairman. He was shot while inside the Pradeshiya Sabha.

¶ 02 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, we too are affected. The security provided to us thus far has been withdrawn by this Government. The Government must be accountable if anything happens to us. We directly criticize the Government and point out its mistakes. Such problems exist when in the Opposition. I will not dwell further on that.

¶ 03 On potatoes and onions, three months ago I proposed, during the Adjournment, to impose taxes on imported potatoes and onions. A wound left to fester cannot be healed; the leg must be cut. These taxes should have been imposed three months ago. Heavy rains have destroyed potato stores in Uva Paranagama and Welimada; now potatoes are rotting. Onion stores too are destroyed. Yet more imports were brought for the next three months. Now only today is the tax imposed. It should have been done three months ago to give relief to farmers. After the damage is done, a tax is useless. This Government, whether it makes good or bad decisions, makes them after injustice is caused to the people.

¶ 04 Next: a Gazette has been issued allowing the import of two varieties, Ponni Samba and Pal Samba. When was it gazetted? I think around the 13th of this month, but the Gazette was issued on the 15th. Is there a big fraud, theft, collusion? The Gazette says shipments must be loaded by the 28th and arrive by the 15th of next month. A few businesspersons close to the Government and the Minister have already shipped rice from Chennai and Tuticorin. Even before midnight on the 15th, rice had reached those ports. One person got 20 containers; five traders, about 20 containers each, across nine companies. Others got nothing. As of now, rice has arrived at Colombo Port. How did they mill paddy and turn it into rice in Chennai and Tuticorin within five days? The Gazette was at midnight; by morning, rice had reached the port. Are these traders close to the Government or the Minister? I speak about the Minister’s associates.

¶ 05 These days are holidays in India — in Chennai and Tuticorin — Deepavali holidays. No trader can import rice during this. Those traders are close to the Government or the Minister. This is grand theft. Since it is hard to catch, they do it this way — Gazette issued, goods already in hand.

¶ 06 What is the Government doing? Only a few traders are importing rice; others cannot. Why? Because of the holidays, rice cannot be loaded by the 28th. Thus only those close to the Government and the Minister can bring rice now. Meanwhile, local millers sold Keeri Samba at Rs. 360. Even with a controlled price of Rs. 260, Keeri Samba was not available at that price; millers sold at Rs. 320–340. Now Ponni Samba and another variety are coming. Pal Samba will not be sold at Rs. 260; it will be around Rs. 340. If Ponni Samba can be sold at Rs. 260, that is a benefit. The benefit should go to farmers or consumers. Rice import duty is Rs. 65 per kilo. Reduce it to, say, 25 cents and give rice to consumers. Reduce the Rs. 65 duty and give rice to the people who eat rice. Now neither the consumer nor the farmer benefits. Imports hurt both.

¶ 07 Either reduce duty and price and give rice to consumers, or give fertilizer subsidy or cash to farmers so people can eat. But neither is happening. After the 28th, rice cannot be shipped.

¶ 08 Now 800 containers of salt are at the port. With this Gazette, imported salt is lying there. If at least those packets were sold at Rs. 50 to our people? The Gazette was issued; salt was imported; then clearance was stopped; now the salt is lying at the port. The same will happen to rice after the 28th, since shipments must be loaded by midnight on the 28th.

¶ 09 On arrack: even if you tax alcohol, people must drink for the tax to be collected. A bottle is Rs. 4,600. If people drink, the Government gets tax. One Government MP said they will collect more tax but then says “don’t drink”. If people drink, we can collect tax. I said this in the previous Government too. They also failed. If legal spirits were available at Rs. 2,000–2,500, kasippu (illicit) would vanish, as it has in many villages. So provide legal spirits affordably.

¶ 10 Ranga Dissanayake said 60% of State institutions are corrupt. If so, then Education Ministry, Parliamentary Affairs Ministry, Prisons, Police, Defence Ministry, President’s Office — all must be corrupt? The bank where his in-laws worked — not corrupt? I asked who released Arjuna Mahendran’s passport — could not be answered. Do not say all State institutions are corrupt without naming which.

¶ 11 Next, the Central Cultural Fund. I intend to table documents. The Minister is a good man, but there have been thefts and lapses. Do not only probe past lapses; also look at current issues. I will table the documents. - Placed in the Library.

¶ 12 Next, Ruhuna University’s Faculty of Science has not admitted students, though Peradeniya, Jayewardenepura, Colombo have. What about those students’ future? About 250 are waiting. The University cites non-academic staff vacancies; not recruiting. Our MPs from the area are here. Give these youth opportunities and recruit. If vacancies exist, fill them — there are enough qualified youth in Matara District in science and math streams. This is affecting the region.

¶ 13 These are many issues. We highlight them to be fixed. Thank you, Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, for the time.