The Hon. Amila Prasad

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, thank you for this opportunity.

¶ 02 First, I thank the people of Mirigama and the Gampaha District who granted me the mandate to enter this august Parliament. As a right-wing political movement, we suffered a major defeat; yet from a district like Gampaha we won the campaign and entered Parliament for the first time. I remember with respect those people. Over the next five years, I will use this mandate to bring the country under the right-wing, the green flag.

¶ 03 From the start of this Parliament until now—even while speaking of the new Government’s policy framework—the key refrain is the “76-year curse.” For the first time, the people placed trust in a new political movement. They ended their own sin, I would say; now there is a new mandate. You can end the pains felt in your lifetime and realize your dreams for this country. But your movement has done 60 of those 76 years of politics. You have given people hope for a new path and won power. We invite you to move away from right-wing policies as crafted by Ranil Wickremesinghe and take a genuine left path to the destination you promise. Whatever you say, your project and economy are still running along that right-wing line. When will you change course? We expect that—without animosity. As a right-wing movement, we actually want a genuine left movement to take the country there; if you deliver prosperity, all citizens, including us, will be happy. We will not pull your leg. But we plead: choose your clear left path and follow it. If you succeed, that is a great bequest to all Sri Lankans. If you fail, at the next mandate as a right-wing movement we can take the country forward. Please choose your path clearly.

¶ 04 On current matters, our Deputy Minister of Fisheries said vast reliefs were granted within ten days. That is good; but it also means the country is not as bankrupt as you claim. If in ten days, with no new inflows, you grant reliefs from funds left by previous governments, then remember: even within the alleged 76-year curse, some funds remained.

¶ 05 For decades since 1977 you embraced the open economy. Now, after 70 years, you can shift to a new closed economy if you wish. You tied yourself to this Constitution; you said “let’s remove J.R.” Now you have the chance to answer all that. Let’s stop disparaging the past; instead set a clear timeline—where you start and what you will do now. Then we can assess how to take the country forward with your plans. You also said constantly that Sri Lanka is rich in natural resources and can produce anything. We ask you to commence production quickly—every industry you promised. People gave you this sweeping mandate for quick action; they even weakened the Opposition for your smooth path. Therefore, your foremost duty is to swiftly bring laws to end bribery, corruption, and waste, and to start the entire production process. We are not mean-spirited; begin a rapid development drive whose results you yourself can see within five years.

¶ 06 On foreign policy: what is your line? We are close to one large neighbour—India—with whom all dealings must occur: business and political. I heard your Government talk of halting the Adani projects. If you antagonize India at the outset, the negative results will hurt not just you or us, but future generations. We want clarity: is your foreign policy non-aligned, or tilting towards China?

¶ 07 Further, the middle class rejected us mainly due to heavy taxation. Because of that burden, Sajith Premadasa—[Interruption.]