Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition

¶ 01 Statistics. If state policy is designed on the premise that one person can live for a month on Rs. 16,000 or Rs. 18,000, then there is a serious distortion, deficiency and weakness in state policy. We must say that clearly today.

¶ 02 We must not forget an important segment: our migrant workers. Over a million Sri Lankans live and work overseas, especially in the Middle East, and render an immense service to our country. In truth, they have given our country a lifeline. In tourism, foreign direct investment and exports, they provide tremendous strength. Among foreign remittance earners, around 350,000 are in the United Arab Emirates, 246,000 in Saudi Arabia, 175,000 in Kuwait, 140,000 in Qatar, 14,500 in Jordan, 32,000 in Oman, 13,130 in Bahrain, about 30,000 in Israel and 7,000 in Lebanon. According to statistics, there are even small numbers in conflict-affected states such as Iran (35), Syria (20), Yemen (27) and Palestine (4). There are over a million Sri Lankan workers overseas, especially in the Middle East. We need a structured, strong, alternative set of programmes to protect them. The Government, through embassies—with specific relationships and mechanisms—must intervene to safeguard these workers. I state this very clearly.

¶ 03 The President spoke of the importance of tourism. I accept that tourism and exports must be strengthened. But one thing was forgotten: foreign direct investment. We urge you to see the Middle East war not only as a tragedy—with innocent lives lost and devastation—but also to seize any positive opportunity to rebuild confidence in Sri Lanka and operationalise a plan to attract FDI. We are ready to cooperate.

¶ 04 As you are in the House today, I again stress the importance and necessity of an International Donor Conference. Think of the 22 million people of this country, think of the victims of the “8960” cyclone—please convene an international donor conference. I do not know how successful it can be amid the current war, and the Government delayed taking this step. Had it been convened then, we could have garnered international sympathy and support for the losses from the “Ditcha” cyclone. That was a missed opportunity, deprived to our people by this Government.

¶ 05 I therefore propose an all-party special discussion, devoid of government-opposition division, on how Sri Lanka should face the current emergency, and how we solve the problems arising from it. Let us not confine this to one side. All of us, together, must find solutions, because we love this country and we stand for the wellbeing of our 22 million people.

¶ 06 Finally, Hon. Deputy Speaker, I ask that the President personally intervene to allow a two-day debate on the international war situation and the resulting emergency. Also, convene all leaders and members to discuss how to respond to the crisis.

¶ 07 The Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the Samagi Jana Sandhanaya unequivocally condemn the barbaric attack on Iran. It is wrong. We strongly denounce it. It violates the UN Charter. Under Articles 2(4) and 2(7), attacks on other states are impermissible.

¶ 08 Likewise, we strongly condemn the attacks on the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. With that statement, I conclude. Thank you.