Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, I am pleased to contribute on several instruments across Ministries.

¶ 02 The Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill is positive. Subjecting Samurdhi/Community Banks to State audit will enhance recognition and credibility.

¶ 03 Under the Judicature Act Regulations, Samatha mediators in Mediation Boards will be empowered as Peace Justices—this too is not objectionable.

¶ 04 Under the National State Assembly’s Sports Law Regulations, we are setting qualification criteria for office bearers and regulating registration of sports bodies, ensuring they cannot exist merely in name. They must meet, file reports, and become active organizations.

¶ 05 Turning to the Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, its main effect is to replace the “Rubber Controller” with the “Director-General,” reducing legal hurdles especially in court processes.

¶ 06 On rubber generally: Sri Lanka has a long history in rubber cultivation. The rubber tree, identified in the mid-18th century, was spread to Asia in 1876, with the first trees in Sri Lanka at Heneratgoda Botanical Garden, Gampaha. Our rubber expanded so rapidly that even Brazil later received planting material from Sri Lanka. Although not native, Sri Lanka established the world’s first rubber research institute. In 1952, Sri Lanka entered the historic Rubber–Rice Pact with China—our first free-trade-type bilateral arrangement—to secure markets. Rubber is widely grown in Kalutara, Galle, Kandy, Matale, Kurunegala, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya and beyond.

¶ 07 We should leverage this legacy to revitalize the sector.