The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, with regard to parts 1 to 6 and 8 of the Question raised by Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, I state as follows:

¶ 02 The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has taken cognizance of the complaint lodged by Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna on 31st June, 2025. A preliminary inquiry has been initiated under Section 42(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023.

¶ 03 Under Section 42(2), the purpose of a preliminary inquiry is to determine whether reasonable grounds exist to believe an offence under the Act has been committed.

¶ 04 Under Section 42(3) of the Anti-Corruption Act, an order for a full investigation can only be made after the preliminary inquiry.

¶ 05 Accordingly, Answers to parts 1 to 6 and 8 can be provided only after commencement and/or conclusion of the investigation.

¶ 06 (7) The current Government is taking maximum action against corruption and is conducting relevant investigations within the existing legal framework, following the prescribed procedures.

¶ 07 I further inform that the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption is an independent entity and the Government does not interfere in its affairs.

¶ 08 Hon. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity, with your permission, to address another matter.

¶ 09 Yesterday, an MP who identifies himself as the media spokesperson for the Leader of the Opposition spoke to our MP Lakmali Hemachandra in a highly threatening manner in this House. I raise this not only as a threat to her, but as part of a wider culture. You know, Mr. Speaker, that for years the number of women MPs in our Parliament has been very low. Even today, with 22 women MPs, Sri Lanka has one of the lowest proportions in South Asia. Yesterday’s incident, in my view, was violence, a threat, a verbal threat and harassment. This is a culture we are trying to defeat. This morning as well, similar behaviour was observed. The public has demanded a cultural change in this House.

¶ 10 I urge Hon. Opposition MPs to observe social media to see what citizens say about this and yesterday’s incident. The public rejects such conduct. We worked hard to bring 22 women MPs here. They represent the women of this country. As a medical professional, you know well, Mr. Speaker, the violence women face, beginning with verbal domination rooted in patriarchal culture. The competence of a woman MP becomes a challenge to some men. That is the problem women face continuously. When our women MPs speak here, threatening them is threatening the women of this country.

¶ 11 Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka, you are generally courteous here. The way that MP spoke cannot be approved. Increasing women’s representation may be a challenge to some, but that is the change we need, and I invite you to change accordingly.

¶ 12 Girls looking at our women MPs dream to be like Lakmali Hemachandra, Samanmali Gunasinghe, Kaushalya Ariyarathna, Saroja Paulraj and the other twenty. These threats attack those dreams. Mr. Speaker, please strongly caution such Members or put in place procedures. Such conduct is ugly and improper, rejected not only by us but by the citizens.

¶ 13 Today, when you add up the Opposition SJB MPs, there are even more MPs on our side representing the Western Province.