The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe – Deputy Minister of Labour

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I am wondering whether the homework I did last night went in vain. I prepared to speak on the regulations under the Convention against Doping in Sport Act, No. 33 of 2013. But this morning, with developments, I received a news alert: “A group of Opposition MPs, including Members of the SJB, walked out of the House after the Speaker declined to allocate time to discuss the Iran–Israel conflict.” They have boycotted the House claiming they were not given time to speak on Iran–Israel. In my view, the Opposition seems like they are on banned stimulants.

¶ 02 Hon. Sunil Watagala explained the CMC matter. From the 6th of last month until yesterday they were making claims; holding media briefings; doing drama. They were preparing to seize control of the CMC. After Sister Vraie Kelly Balthazaar and our group took control yesterday, they collapsed. They wept after losing the vote, then suddenly remembered a war that started about four days earlier and wanted to speak on it.

¶ 03 We all know under Standing Order 27(2) the Leader of the Opposition can raise a matter by seeking leave at the start of the day. He did not. That is hypocrisy. Instead of using due procedure, they later cry and claim they want to speak on Iran–Israel. That is not the truth. Until yesterday, their minds were on winning Colombo. They had 62 on paper; but the result was 54 for them and 61 for us.

¶ 04 Our colleague, Watagala, spoke about conscience votes. Can conscience be challenged? Yes—where was Mujibur Rahuman’s and Sajith Premadasa’s conscience when they tried to ally with the very party they called corrupt? Sajith himself said the country was ruined by that Pohottuwa government and they are trying to rise again. The people asked: should we join that corrupt lot? They said no. Yet today they try to join with them to form councils. Where is the conscience?

¶ 05 This morning, news rolled in: NPP (Maalimaawa) forms control in Puttalam MC; in Walikanda PS; in Vavuniya South (Sinhala) PS; in Kurunegala MC; and Rinsad Ahamad of the NPP is elected Mayor of Puttalam MC. One after another. They are not running away because of Iran–Israel but because of this reality.

¶ 06 Also, it was reported that in the CMC, seven of 36 parking companies with contracts are owned by politicians and the loss is nearly Rs. 4 million per month to the CMC. We ask the new Mayor and Deputy Mayor to investigate.

¶ 07 The Government is acting impartially before the law. They are afraid and thus trying to band together in local bodies. If they love the people and value democracy, they should allow the NPP, which won the LG polls, to form councils.

¶ 08 We also saw leadership challenges within their own party. Some of their own MPs have challenged their Leader outside.

¶ 09 We, however, support Hon. Sajith Premadasa to continue as Leader of the Opposition for a long time. He should remain in that seat and perform well there.

¶ 10 Members of the TNA, including Hon. Rasamanickam, kept saying “our people”. For us, all the people in this country—Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, Malay—North, South, East, West—are our people. Our Government is for all of them. In the Budget, we allocated Rs. 5,000 million for road development in the North and are implementing various other projects.

¶ 11 Hon. Deputy Speaker, please allow me a bit more time... We have many Government speakers.

¶ 12 On sports: the President, Hon. Anura Dissanayake, stated in Jaffna that we will facilitate an international cricket ground there, and Hon. Sanath Jayasuriya too is assisting. Our Government treats all equally, without discrimination. We must resolve long-standing issues in sport and uplift it. Many grounds lie idle; we need to revive sports culture to build a healthy nation. The Sports Minister and Deputy Minister are actively engaged—expanding sports schools, facilities, and support.

¶ 13 Regarding today’s regulations under the Convention against Doping in Sport Act, we support these to further strengthen sports and a healthy, disciplined society.

¶ 14 To the Opposition: learn the rules and procedures; schoolchildren observe us from the gallery. Do not abuse points of order. Those games are over. A majority of the current presiding panel are new MPs; do not think they do not know the rules.

¶ 15 With those remarks, I conclude. Thank you.