The Hon. Kanchana Welipitiya

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, we are debating the regulations under the Convention against Doping in Sport Act, No. 33 of 2013. By adopting these, we can safeguard the integrity of sport and our athletes, and elevate Sri Lankan sport.

¶ 02 We have seen athletes in various countries lose honour due to using prohibited substances. Therefore, enacting these regulations locally is important. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) annually names substances prohibited for athletes. Member countries must adopt them. That is what we are doing now. This applies not only to athletes but also to events like equestrian sports. With these regulations, we can move our sports to a better place.

¶ 03 Some substances are prohibited for use within 24 hours before competition; others are prohibited entirely in-competition. We are aligning with the annually updated WADA Prohibited List. Since morning, the Opposition has been protesting loudly, perhaps frustrated by yesterday’s outcome at the Colombo Municipal Council where they did not gain the Mayor’s post as they expected. They now claim the vote should have been open, contradicting their earlier statements that it was by secret ballot. When no party has 50 percent, the head of the council must be elected by secret ballot, allowing members to vote by conscience. Yesterday, our candidate, Comrade Vraie Cally Balthazar, won with 61 votes. It was fair. The Opposition left this House today likely due to that embarrassment. Many more local bodies will hold similar votes, and our party will continue to win.

¶ 04 They also claim public support for us is declining. But the NPP has won the highest number of local body seats historically. Our support has not waned; it grew from the Presidential to the Parliamentary Election, and now in local bodies. We proceed with a clear vision. On electricity tariffs, when reduced by 20 percent, they credited the regulator; when increased by 15 percent, they blame the Government. We govern with a plan for the next five years to uplift the country and people.

¶ 05 These anti-doping regulations will help place our sports in an honourable position globally. With that, I conclude. Thank you.