The Hon. Ajith P. Perera

¶ 01 [Expunged on the order of the Chair.]

¶ 02 This country is not without shortcomings, but since Independence our leaders achieved much: food self-sufficiency through cultivation, hydropower, coal power, a world-class port, highways, 14,022 GN divisions, over 10,100 schools, and so on. From D.S. and Dudley Senanayake, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Sir John Kotelawala, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, J.R. Jayewardene, Ranasinghe Premadasa, D.B. Wijetunge, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Chandrika Kumaratunga and others — they built through civil conflict.

¶ 03 Two organizations impeded our progress: the LTTE and the JVP. In 1971, about 25,000 youths died within a year of the 1970 election due to a misguided insurrection. Later, while our armed forces fought separatism in the North and East, the JVP started a war in the South. They opposed key national projects, incited the public, and obstructed development. Now they call our country a “failed state.” The current President must remember he is the President of this country; free education enabled him to rise — as it did many of us.

¶ 04 On fuel queues: they arose not from the government’s fault but due to global tensions in the Middle East and public sensitivity. We, too, say people should not queue unnecessarily. There is adequate fuel in storage, and we hope this crisis ends soon.

¶ 05 [Expunged on the order of the Chair.]

¶ 06 On coal: ten ships of substandard coal have arrived. An undercut tender won by Trident Chemphar Limited of India has a local agent, Panaurora (Pvt.) Ltd., based in Rajagiriya. Its directors include Hakmana Nandaloka Thero, Sayaara Holdings, and Invest LK. Sayaara Holdings’ directors include Anuradha Oshadhi Herath and Shanika Kumari; Invest LK’s directors include Hakmana Nandaloka Thero and Sanath Jayasundara, formerly an ICC-sanctioned cricket scorer. The CEO of Trident Chemphar was arrested in the Delhi liquor licence case for corruption. Another person involved is Rakhitha Rajapaksa. These parties cannot meet Norochcholai standards; direct losses are around Rs. 8 billion. While fines are mentioned, who is the local agent to be held to account?

¶ 07 Order, please! Question: may we extend time until conclusion of today’s debate?

¶ 08 Hon. Members: Aye.

¶ 09 Continuing: I urge the Minister in charge of Police to direct the CID to investigate the local agent — Panaurora (Pvt.) Ltd. — and the individuals named. Major tenders must have credible, capable local agents, otherwise recovery is impossible. These details were reported by Namini Wijedasa in The Sunday Times and by Lasantha Ruhunage in Anidda; I rely on those credible sources.

¶ 10 [Expunged on the order of the Chair.]

¶ 11 We are proud of our motherland and of all communities who sacrificed — Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Malay, Burgher. We oppose those who insult this country and those who led armed insurrections against its development. Thank you.