The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, I wish to state a few fundamentals. Emergency law has been imposed; the debate is on Friday. Why did the President extend it? He said today it was due to these issues. The “Ditsa” cyclone ended over three months ago. Still, 1,075 families remain in 32 shelters; 150,000 people are with relatives and friends in temporary arrangements; 40,000 families have no houses to go to; 46,000 families are still temporarily with relatives and friends receiving Rs. 25,000. After three months, the Government has failed to find solutions. What were you fighting about all this time? You blamed past governments day and night. Three months later you still keep the Emergency; what have you done with it? Only leaders who fight amongst themselves.

¶ 02 The President came here and said countries are “bundu” (gangs). If Sri Lanka were a “bundu,” then it is the “President of the bundu” who is saying it. This is our country. If he calls it a gangland, it is shameful.

¶ 03 On fuel queues: the President said reserves are sufficient. The CPC Chairman, Mr. Rajakaruna, made one statement on March 1st and a different one on March 2nd, saying less than 5,000 MT per day was distributed and stocks for 34-35 days existed. If so, the Government must assume responsibility to distribute. Mr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri says 82% in queues support the Government. Then ask them to go home; queues would disappear!

¶ 04 On storage tanks: After 2022, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera and CPC Chairmen Sumith Wijesinha, Mohamed Owais, former Navy Commander Jayantha Wijegunawardena, Saliya Wickramasuriya, Darshana Ratnayake had completed two tanks at the Trincomalee complex. You’ve been in power over a year; could you at least fill those two tanks? Our current Minister climbed into a tank, but nothing happened after. Under Yahapalana, we brought a joint project with India to develop the Trincomalee tank farm. Who filed cases against it? The present CPC Chairman, D.J. Rajakaruna. They stopped it then and now claim nothing was done. COPE under Sunil Handunnetti decided that of 102 tanks, one is 99% destroyed, 15 are with LIOC, and 16 to be taken by CPC for storage subject to Cabinet approval. JVP unions filed cases against it. Later, under Gotabaya Rajapaksa, three Kolonnawa tanks were to be newly built; then the current President was brought to lay foundation stones for 6 or 7 tanks, but he realised it was a sham.

¶ 05 Even the four bombs-damaged tanks were rehabilitated and now can be filled; at least that curse has eased. Instead, in a time of global wars, they are cutting up the Kolonnawa petrol 17,000 MT tank and selling it as scrap, “cutting a cupboard to make a stool.” Tank 31 was approved for Rs. 350 million rehabilitation; now they cut and sell steel at Rs. 52,000 per MT. Bureau Veritas is involved. I ask the President to first investigate this destruction by your CPC Chairman before building new tanks.

¶ 06 Over 350 vessels are reportedly held at the Strait of Hormuz; an Iranian Major General threatened to strike them. In August 2022 we imported 5,500 MT of diesel and 4,000 MT of petrol per day; now volumes are down. Don’t push this into a crisis; manage it prudently.

¶ 07 You increased flat rates yesterday: white diesel by Rs. 4 and Octane 92 petrol by Rs. 1. These were from earlier cargos, not post-crisis purchases. Gas: the Government has 8,000 MT; the private sector (Laugfs Gas) has 30,000 MT. When we tried to merge then due to Laugfs’ Rs. 30 billion debts to state banks, Sunil Handunnetti opposed it here. Now Dhammika Perera has taken over over 50% of Laugfs Terminals Limited; after he took it, the President says the Government is negotiating to take 15,000 MT. When WÆgapitiya tried, you opposed; when your friend takes it, you agree.

¶ 08 Let me also briefly mention an investment in Nikaweratiya: Maliban Textiles came to Eluwankulama for a USD 12 million investment on a 20-acre Livestock Board land, creating 4,000 jobs. A case was filed in the Supreme Court by Mr. Wasantha Samarasinghe against it; the entire project halted. Now they seek private settlements? Please, do not play politics with national development.

¶ 09 Thank you.