Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, before I pose my Question, I propose, particularly with the Hon. Prime Minister present in the House, that it is very important to apologise to the country and the people for describing our country as a “banana republic.” It is not appropriate to bring our country into disrepute and contempt. Therefore, with the Hon. Prime Minister also present, I request that an apology be made to the people and to the country.

¶ 02 QUESTION BY PRIVATE NOTICE

¶ 03 GOVERNMENT'S PREPAREDNESS TO MITIGATE IMPACT OF WAR SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

¶ 04 Mr. Speaker, under Standing Order 27(2), I submit the following Question.

¶ 05 Given the escalating conflict situation in the Middle East, which has destabilised security in that region and, indeed, created a wider global instability and insecurity, and given the likely impacts on Sri Lankans employed abroad, air travel, fuel supplies, foreign remittances, tourism, exports, and foreign direct investment, we seek clear answers from the Government to the following:

¶ 06 1. In view of the intensifying war environment in the Middle East, what is the Government’s position on regional security? In particular, it is essential to clarify to the country the Government’s policy to safeguard our own national security and the safety of Sri Lankans, and to address potential economic, social, and political impacts.

¶ 07 2. What is the number of Sri Lankans working in Middle Eastern countries, disaggregated by country (including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Israel, Lebanon, and others)?

¶ 08 3. If escalation threatens the lives of Sri Lankans, what plans has the Ministry put in place to evacuate them safely or otherwise ensure their protection?

¶ 09 Many countries have already actively implemented formal programmes to repatriate their vulnerable citizens. What formal programme has our Government prepared for Sri Lankans?

¶ 10 4. Have emergency response units been activated in Sri Lanka’s missions in the relevant countries? Are 24-hour emergency contact lines operational?

¶ 11 Prior to this conflict, many Sri Lankans complained that our missions did not provide adequate services to our migrant workers. I therefore ask whether the emergency units are genuinely active and whether 24-hour emergency contacts are functioning.

¶ 12 5. Owing to flight cancellations and airspace closures, how many Sri Lankans are stranded at airports in the Middle East and elsewhere? Is there a formal Government monitoring mechanism, and what measures are being taken to ensure their safety, care, and—if they wish—assisted return to Sri Lanka?

¶ 13 6. Are our missions providing those stranded persons with shelter, food, medical assistance, protection, legal support, and other necessary care?

¶ 14 7. Under an emergency transport plan, what steps has the Government/Ministry taken to arrange special flights or other modes of transport?

¶ 15 8. What action has been taken in coordination with the International Civil Aviation Organization and the relevant national civil aviation regulators regarding countries where air travel is disrupted?

¶ 16 9. Is there a risk of a decline in remittances due to economic instability in the Middle East? If such a situation arises, what pre-emptive plan has the Government, including the Ministry, prepared to manage it?

¶ 17 10. Through bilateral diplomatic relations with OPEC and other oil-producing countries (both in and outside the Middle East), what specific steps has Sri Lanka taken to ensure uninterrupted fuel supplies to this country? This should include not only fuel and gas but also other essentials such as fertiliser and critical inputs.

¶ 18 11. If maritime transport through the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted, has Sri Lanka considered alternative supply arrangements—particularly for crude oil, refined products, and LNG?

¶ 19 12. Have there been discussions at the level of foreign affairs with oil-exporting countries on the economic impact on Sri Lanka of a rise in global fuel prices? What progress has been made?

¶ 20 Mr. Speaker, I await answers to these questions. Also, Hon. Chamara Sampath raised a matter of a vessel reportedly damaged off the Galle coast. If there are verified facts, we ask the Government to disclose them to the House.