The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, our Deputy Minister repeated exactly the same speech he gave for 15 years. Now are you in Government or are we? You came to power still repeating the same lies you told back then.

¶ 02 Recently — yes, yes — we saw your Government’s actions. You said you are getting ready. Show us where you are getting ready to go. Now, about raising salaries — no problem, that is good; it should increase. But what are you doing? You raise salaries and then tax the increase excessively, taking it back to the Government. Does the employee see the benefit? No. With your tax policy, most of the increase is clawed back. During the campaign when you could not deliver on promises, you came here and now say it will take 60 months. Back then you said you would do it with one pen stroke. Now you realize it is not so easy, isn’t it, Hon. Minister?

¶ 03 Look at your work order. Today there is political victimization in every institution. Today you suppress trade unions. Today you say unions are a big nuisance. We did not say that — you did. You were the ones who drove the trade union movement for 20 years, making teachers avoid classes and engage in union activities. But what are you doing now? You have dismantled the entire trade union movement, transferred employees at will, subjected them to political revenge, and if they are not under your command, you transfer them and still say you are activating the public service. When the public service becomes inefficient, you do not speak of your political interference — instead you blame the public servant.

¶ 04 During the previous Government, there was a competitive examination to recruit. I saw Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake also spoke on it. Interviews were to recruit a hundred. What are you doing now? Those candidates are not from your party, isn’t it? You think everything was politically managed, so you stop it all and take it your way. We tell the Government — do your politics, but do not destroy the state machinery. Allow workers to work with a good state of mind.

¶ 05 In the private sector, too — you talk of workers’ rights, you said you would find jobs for those who worked in factories that closed. How many did you actually find jobs for? Tell us a factory that was re-opened after you came to power. None. After your Government came, factories have been closing, and you have not intervened to ensure justice for those workers. Why? The so-called Government of the common man has become a Government of godfathers and billionaires. Decisions are taken after asking the godfathers and the tycoons, not the small man, the farmer, the fisherman, or the worker.

¶ 06 On tourism, you boast of demolishing unauthorized structures. Demolishing is easy; building is hard. Those places provided livelihoods for years. If there are legal issues, discuss them and ensure fairness. We are not saying to let them remain illegally; but implement a proper process. From Weligama to Tangalle, Unakuruwa, from here at Galle Face, Kimbulawala — there are people who created livelihoods. If you think you can decide the economics of the village and tourism by talking only to five-star hotel owners, it won’t work. Tourism here developed in a certain way; people live off it. You bring a Bill to raise private-sector salaries; but on the other hand you hit the stomachs of those who, with great effort, earn without being a burden to Government. Your answer? You say they are political appointees of past regimes. No — people from all parties are in those places, and many voted for you. You eject them in a day and cut off their income, yet come to Parliament and talk about raising private-sector wages.

¶ 07 Look at the Youth Societies Movement. For the first time in history you are politicizing it in an unprecedented way. If you want to do politics through the National Youth Services Council, find a method. But you are trying to bring the Youth Societies under your political command from the point of formation. That is the traditional mindset. With that mindset you will never achieve the change you expect. If an elephant strays into a village, you call it an Opposition conspiracy. Did the Opposition carry the elephant?