The Hon. D.V. Chanaka

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, before speaking on today’s two expenditure heads, I must respond. The Government Chief Whip, Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa—if he were here—smeared our party and Hon. Namal Rajapaksa. He said, “Come after lunch and answer.” Are there two Parliaments—before and after lunch? Government members come in the morning, eat, and go home at 1.00 p.m.? There is a tradition: time is first given to the SJB twice, then TNA, then the symbol party, and only thereafter to the Pohottuwa. So, whether we like it or not, we speak after lunch. Please understand that as Chief Government Whip.

¶ 02 Two clear signs show the government is in trouble: when Anura Kumara Dissanayake runs in and speaks for hours, or when a new smear is cooked up against Namal Rajapaksa. When the government came with a two-thirds, you went to court over his degree. Case No. B42852/01/25 at the Chief Magistrate’s Court was filed regarding Namal’s law degree. If you have proof, go to the CID tomorrow with your documents rather than relying on dubious websites. Then report to court. You held media shows and went to court, questioned Namal, and yet nothing has been reported to the courts. Instead, you return here to sling mud.

¶ 03 A five-member CID team can go to London—to City University—collect the certificate, alumni lists, with proper judicial requests. Simple. Smearing when the government fails is not right.

¶ 04 On failures, I have information: a Senior DIG in Galle (Southern Province) allegedly mobilizing crowds for government rallies. At the Il Maha Viru Samaruwa, usually the roads clog; not now—it was boxed into Viharamahadevi Park. For the Opposition rally on the 21st, Anura scheduled Tangalle on the 20th but cannot bring crowds because people oppose the government. Letters have been sent division-wise in Hambantota, Matara, and Galle to bring specified numbers—e.g., Tangalle 397; Beliatta 420; Walasmulla 360; Weeraketiya 414; Middeniya 246; Agunakolapelessa 264; Kirinda 36; Port 36; Tissamaharama 198. OICs have told field officers to fetch five from each GN division, with checkpoints recording whether they delivered. I have the documentation and challenge the Police Minister and Deputy to say it’s false; if they do, I will publish immediately. Otherwise, accept that police are being used to drag crowds.

¶ 05 Third, on the pickup truck procurement. I previously explained how the tender was manipulated: an international tender cut from 42 to 12 days; no pre-bid meeting for a Rs. 60 billion tender when even Rs. 10 million tenders have one. Specs were designed so only one local company—Toyota—with five service stations nationwide and 2500–3000 cc engines, could qualify; others were rejected for not meeting cc range or service station spread. If you wanted Toyota, just award—don’t pretend it’s open. Never in history has a tender closed in 12 days. How is buying pickups an emergency? People will rally on the 21st against such corrupt tenders.

¶ 06 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, I watched “Patthare Vistare” this morning. Hon. Minister of Public Administration: previously a Police Clearance needed only a GN certificate. Now, has a new circular been issued requiring, in addition, the approval of the Public Safety Committee? Please answer yes or no. Media reported this morning that to get a Police Clearance, approval of the Public Safety Committee Chair is needed. A person from Dehiwala told me: the GN can certify, but the Public Safety Committee Chair—who happens to be a Member’s husband—is in prison for drugs, so how can he get approval? These Public Safety Committees are political appointments. You have stripped state officers of authority and handed approval to political family members. Is that the new rule?

¶ 07 This Ministry channels capital to villages. But in this Budget, only 13% for capital expenditure and 87% for recurrent. First time ever capital is down to 13%; historically at least 30% was capital. With capital so low, money circulation drops, the economy contracts, village development stops, SMEs and 1.5 million in construction lose work. Later you’ll boast of trillion-rupee fixed deposits—because you spent nothing.

¶ 08 Now GMOA is on strike. Doctors are not writing prescriptions for external purchase. A bypass patient needs around Rs. 100,000 worth of outside drugs; even those scripts are being withheld; some hospitals lack vitamins and iron. The process requiring nurses and other approvals has halted. Resolve this urgently, or a larger crisis will emerge.

¶ 09 Thank you.