The Hon. Ruwan Mapalagama

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, listening to the Opposition during this committee stage reminds me of a saying on three-wheelers: “If only the beauty on the face was in the heart as well.” If the Opposition had implemented the fine ideas they now speak of when they were in power, they would not be in this predicament. The evening newscasts say “Opposition shakes Parliament; Opposition strips the Government.” Viewers might think the Opposition is doing great work here. But today, 17 March, at 11.41 a.m., there are fewer Opposition Members here than the fingers on one hand. I am a Government Member, yet often sit on the Opposition side as Government Members fill both sides due to the public mandate we received.

¶ 02 Today is also the start of the 2024 GCE O/L examinations; students write on Buddhism or their religion today—the very day we debate the Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Vote. I am happy to speak.

¶ 03 This Ministry has long been neglected. But our policy declaration “A Prosperous Country – A Beautiful Life” devotes a chapter to “A Noble Cultural Life – A Compassionate People.” Many social tragedies—like the recent Medirigiriya concert incident—stem from a deficit of compassion. Rising frustration, violence, suicides, and loss of human dignity all reflect this. We need a new citizen shaped by a national cultural revival.

¶ 04 We aim to form a free, critical, human-dignity-centered cultural person who accepts multiculturalism. The Government is committed to this and has entrusted this Ministry to Hon. Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, a scholar in arts and culture.

¶ 05 In this Budget, under the Department of Cultural Affairs, funds are set aside for a World Poetry Day series, scholarly dialogues, and books for Jaffna school libraries. Through the National Arts Council, we will promote correct language use and creative writing, develop national programmes for teachers in literature and aesthetics, enhance appreciation through cultural centres, hold regional literary festivals, promote village arts through local authorities, and organize university seminars on perspectives of women writers in world literature—allocating Rs. 18.7 million.

¶ 06 Further, Rs. 9 million is allocated for children’s arts; Rs. 9.5 million for a talents-and-dance film competition among cultural centres; support for cultural upliftment of plantation communities; promotion of poetry and literature; and children’s stories and sign-language films to build equality towards persons with disabilities. For the first time, a literary competition for creators with disabilities will be held in 2025. We will create “human libraries” to showcase and learn from the knowledge of persons with disabilities. This Government has given the greatest focus in history to humanities and cultural subjects.

¶ 07 Our cultural centres have become venues for cake-making, beauty, and karate classes. We must restore them as true cultural centres. Curriculum must also nurture aesthetics beyond the small group studying Sinhala literature at A/L. We should infuse literary and dramatic appreciation across streams to build the cultural person.

¶ 08 The Opposition keeps predicting this Government’s fall. Yet we have 159 Members. We are merely the expression of a massive public mandate. None of the Opposition’s doomsday predictions—fuel queues, gas queues, IMF exit, religious strife—have come true. They are now in disarray.

¶ 09 I must also say this: like temple kapuwas (priests) who intercept offerings, some political “kapuwas” have lost their illicit incomes—from taking money for protection, transfers, foreign placements, school admissions—especially during COVID when pilgrim flow reduced. They are agitated because their avenues are gone. But despite all accusations, no media have found a single act of corruption by any one of our 159 Members. If there were, it would have been breaking news every hour. We will protect this Government more than we toiled to form it. As our President Anura Dissanayake told the House: if the Opposition wants to gain future power, do better than us—come with a new path; the people have rejected the old.

¶ 10 Thank you, Hon. Chairman.