The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti

¶ 01 I challenge you to say it verbally or in writing—without telling lies.

¶ 02 If these fellows claim there is information on their phones and then table those phones, that would include data from Arjuna Mahendran himself, Hon. Chairman. Another thing is, some of what is on those phones cannot be shown even to the children of this country. So, those phones should not be tabled.

¶ 03 Today, we have established political democracy in our country. No one interferes with the rule of law. Next is economic democracy. Because of economic democracy, officials today can work with a straight spine. Why do we receive investment? Why are foreign investors coming today? Why have local investors opened their eyes? Because today one can invest without fear or suspicion, and bribes are not being demanded.

¶ 04 Hon. Chairman, if valuable state lands remain unused, it is not for any reason other than this: we can testify how these fellows split into factions, tried to plunder, and ended up clashing until nothing moved. For instance, at Matara–Polhena–Madiha, there is a stretch of state coastal land. It remains idle because these factions fought over it. When Namal Rajapaksa’s group moved to grab it, Dallas’s group opposed; when Dallas’s group tried, Lakshman Yapa’s group opposed. In the end, no one could divide it. If state lands remain idle, it is because these people fought and left them as such. This morning, Hon. Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe tabled a list. I say we must expose to the country the “hakka-budu räsi, bokke dada mas” policy of these fellows—wolves in white clothes shouting piety. We must reveal their deeds. Hon. Chairman, to identify who took bribes and who did not, the President as Finance Minister should appoint an open, independent Presidential Commission. I request Hon. President to establish such a commission.

¶ 05 Even investors are ready to give affidavits about how these people took bribes in the past. They will say how much was taken. Particularly, some who switched ministries under the Rajapaksa government took massive bribes; investors walked away because of that. Some could not even submit a feasibility report before asking for millions of dollars. Those people are still afraid to speak openly because the hands behind them were that powerful.

¶ 06 Those now questioning why Deshbandu was not arrested for days are the same ones who kept him nearby, made him a minister, ran governments with him, and suppressed people. Today, even lawyers, judges, and the Solicitor General can speak out openly. What would have happened if we had spoken like this during the Rajapaksa era? If someone had called Deshbandu a “thug” back then, could they have survived? Today, officials can speak because of whom? Because of a two-thirds government. It is this two-thirds government that allows such openness. Why do these Members now shout like thugs in Parliament to look good on media? Because of your patience, Hon. Chairman, and the patience of the Hon. Speaker.

¶ 07 We remember when Chamal Rajapaksa sat in the Speaker’s Chair—if he so much as turned toward them, they went silent. When he looked their way, they were afraid; they had nothing to say. Even when Basil stood here and rose to speak, everyone sat down. When Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa walked out of the Chamber—even to the washroom—everybody followed; the canteen too. Namal “baby” walked with an entourage. These very people who crawled then now stand stiff-necked in the Opposition and pontificate only because of your forbearance, Hon. Chairman. They violate Standing Orders and parliamentary traditions and speak for hours. Why do our 159 Members sit patiently? Think on it: to protect the mandate the people gave us, to safeguard political democracy, and to uphold economic democracy.

¶ 08 They debated the Budget for nearly a month. Did they point even one finger at a Minister or Deputy Minister for stealing a single rupee? In past budget debates, clothes would be torn here. Yes, we asked questions and we spoke, but we have not uttered anything without facts and figures, Hon. Chairman. They bring up crude falsehoods. Now they warn that we will issue licences the way they did. They stuffed SriLankan Airlines with their relatives: Kapila Chandrasekera, a relative, as CEO; Nishantha Wickremasinghe, Shiranthi’s uncle, as Chairman. They sent a plane to Singapore to bring in a dog. Those who protected the people who sent planes for dogs now lecture us. Sarath Ganegoda is working with us voluntarily without a salary. Do you know why they are jealous? Because we refuse to sell off state enterprises they tried to auction for their meals. That is their biggest problem. They kowtowed to the IMF; we, as a country, stood upright and negotiated for loans—that is what irks them. They licked others’ feet; we did not.

¶ 09 They gave away what was asked even before it was requested. Now they ask why we aren’t doing the same. They want us to do as they did. They harbour great malice and jealousy. They resent that people coming from villages, educated through free education, who love our national assets, sit on this side.

¶ 10 Regarding decentralized budget provisions: we have allocated Rs. 2,250 million. No one in this government has said we will deny decentralized funds to the Opposition. In Matara District, the only Opposition MP is Chathura Galappaththi. If he has a conscience, let him say here: I told him at the outset to submit proposals and we will work together. All Coordinating Committee Chairs tell every Opposition MP to submit proposals. Dayasiri Jayasekara, please bring your proposals; see whether they are not implemented. But you cannot take cuts or steal; and we will not interfere in officials’ work or tell them whose proposals to cut. That is this government’s hallmark.

¶ 11 We also respect officials and promote teamwork. Earlier, if there were three district ministers, the District Secretary had to dance to all three. Today DSs have freedom because we function as a team. We do not interfere.

¶ 12 [Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara requests one minute.]

¶ 13 Look, Hon. Chairman, I will not yield. Let him seek time from the Opposition Leader. Do not set a bad precedent. I will not give my time. Please protect the dignity of Parliament; do not make it a Colombo bazaar. I have already been fair to him.

¶ 14 [Chair: Hon. Dayasiri may take time from Opposition allocation.]

¶ 15 My humble request: do not take my time.

¶ 16 [After exchanges on Standing Orders]

¶ 17 Thank you, Hon. Chairman, for upholding parliamentary practice. This example did not exist earlier. I respect you for that.

¶ 18 To conclude on decentralized funds: previously money was split MP-by-MP; that was unfair to the Opposition. We protested then. Now allocations are processed through the District Coordinating Committee under one framework—good practice. Our government has never discriminated against Opposition MPs, nor between North and South. Those who have not received should take it up at the DCC, not shout here to score marks before local polls.

¶ 19 Finally, what they have is malice and jealousy. They still do not grasp that the people have changed this country’s politics. They think entitlements belong to their lineage and secret dens. I request Hon. President to take all matters regarding the Arjuna Mahendran–Aloysius bond transactions—on which I intervened as COPE Chair—back to court, and to properly operationalize a Presidential Commission again. If done, all the phone data, calls, and distributions will be exposed. Likewise, appoint an independent Presidential Commission where investors—local and foreign—can openly speak about bribes taken and pressures exerted. We will not allow economic democracy to be reversed.

¶ 20 We will not let political democracy be reversed either. That is why this Parliament exists. We thank you and the Hon. Speaker for preserving decorum and tradition. We urge the Opposition to work with us in consensus—not with thuggery. Manage your thuggery within your parties. Some cannot even save their own parties: chairs thrown, leaders ousted, nomination papers rejected; then they come here to posture. If you exploit our patience, that is wrong.

¶ 21 [Later, with two minutes courtesy from Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar]

¶ 22 Thank you, Hon. Minister. Our MPs and Ministers can be criticized, but we are not thieves. We do not waste the people’s wealth or subjugate officials. Officials now have primacy to work by competence. If there are criticisms, present them. This Parliament belongs to the people; we must protect it.

¶ 23 On prices during the festive season: I table a list of 39 essential items. For example, the retail price of brown sugar fell by Rs. 145 between 24 March last year and March this year. Dried chilies fell by Rs. 360 per kg—30 percent. Imported split mung fell by Rs. 555—from Rs. 1,195 to Rs. 640—46 percent. Chickpeas fell by Rs. 310—from Rs. 1,075 to Rs. 765—29 percent. Of the 39 items, most have reduced. Moreover, from April, salaries will increase; by April 10, public servants’ pay will go up, boosting incomes, spending power, and construction and other sectors. Funds are flowing to the people’s hands, not to thieves, brokers, or foreign investors. We protect national assets, secure the economy, entrench economic democracy and freedom; the people are content, though a jealous few here still wail. Thank you for the additional time.