The Hon. Jagath Vithana

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, during this debate I wish to address the plantation sector from practical experience. The reliefs in the last Budget were positive. However, the prior chemical fertilizer ban devastated plantations. We have been struggling to recover. I am an owner of a tea company. We saw income tax on planters increased from 10 percent to 30 percent under the Ranil Wickremesinghe Government. As a result, plantations continue to suffer. If this continues, agriculture will collapse. A solution is needed—either provide VAT relief on fertilizer or a subsidy. About 237 tea factories have closed. In my district, many homes where anthuriums were grown have now planted tea, changing livelihoods. Please address this.

¶ 02 I must also raise a grave personal concern. I recently bought a used vehicle. On Friday evening, while my son was driving it, the police arrested him—unjustly, in my view. I had come to Parliament about ten times in that vehicle. A simple phone call—“Hon. Member, there is an issue with your vehicle”—and I would have presented it. I bought the vehicle from a prominent current MP. I called him; he said he knew of the matter but did not know what had happened. The vehicle, previously in his daughter’s name, was registered in my son’s name at the Motor Traffic Department; my son’s ownership was duly recorded. Today my son is in remand without bail. I visited him yesterday; he refuses special privileges and outside food. I asked that I be taken in; I am the owner, the company is in my name, I am the Managing Director—arrest me instead. They did not. They handcuffed my son and processed everything. He is now remanded for 14 days. Bail is conditioned on the previous owner appearing. This is difficult for my son and, I believe, for the former Minister/MP concerned.

¶ 03 The vehicle had lease financing from HNB. When land is financed by a bank, buyers trust it as clean; similarly with this vehicle. After submitting papers, the Motor Traffic Department issued the book within four days to my company. What more could I have checked?

¶ 04 If I had owned only one vehicle in my life, I might have taken my own life by now. My son is in custody; he has two small children, ages 2 and 3. They are asking for their father. Hon. Deputy Speaker, I will not speak on sub judice matters—only on fairness. I can endure loss of the vehicle or money, or even imprisonment. But if such injustice befalls a public servant or poor person who cannot bear it, what then? Please instruct that minimal force be used appropriately.

¶ 05 Regarding plantations, do not drive both sides to collapse. We have long maintained industrial peace together. Finally, I saw a media spokesman say that Rohitha Abeygunawardena and I orchestrated this entire issue knowingly. Such statements harm our fraternity as Members. We are 225 in this House; be considerate. We debate with decorum. Do not inflame matters in ongoing cases and call for punishment of both parties through media. From Kalutara, two MPs came here with great difficulty; I am one. People talk, but I say there is nothing like that. In establishing control in Matugama Pradeshiya Sabha, I acted responsibly; I gave both Local Authorities we won to the Government. Thank you for the opportunity.