The Hon. R.M. Samantha Ranasinghe

¶ 01 Madam Deputy Chairperson of Committees, thank you for the opportunity to speak on several Bills and regulations.

¶ 02 About a year since the President assumed office, we are fulfilling promises to the people one by one. As we proceed, legal issues arise across 24 Ministries. We assumed power at a tragic time for the country. We have changed the ugly political culture in this country—the people’s great victory. But changing political culture alone will not heal the economy or the state; further structural reforms are needed, including to outdated laws. Hence today’s regulations under the Sports Act, and amendments to the Rubber Control and Samurdhi Acts. That we need these now, after 76 years, shows the lack of vision and planning of past governments.

¶ 03 Sports associations were long subjugated by political authorities. We are correcting that to give fair opportunities to capable youth. Where legal change is needed, we have brought it.

¶ 04 Rubber cultivation has made a major contribution to our national economy. In my Kegalle District, with ideal climate and soils, political leaders in the past destroyed rubber by replacing it with “katupol” (a dry shrub species), instead of research and downstream industries. This harmed the environment, the rubber sector, and associated livelihoods nationwide.

¶ 05 On Samurdhi: many governments tried to reduce poverty—Janasaviya under President Premadasa in 1989; then Samurdhi under President Chandrika; later “Divi Neguma” under Samurdhi; then Aswesuma. For decades they spoke of eliminating poverty, yet data show poverty was maintained rather than eliminated. Roughly two million families have been kept dependent over the last five decades—without lifting even one locality out of poverty.

¶ 06 Karl Marx identified “pauperization” as an inherent element of capitalism. When he awakened the world to this, a French philosopher mocked him in 1846 with “The Philosophy of Poverty.” Marx replied with “The Poverty of Philosophy.” Those who made this country destitute through predatory capitalism, who looted health and other sectors, now tell us to end poverty. We are not poor; we live modestly. We do not misuse public funds. We have cut ministerial expenses; from the President to the PM, Ministers, MPs, and Chairs, all are frugal. Yet those capitalist “gurus” call us poor—that is poverty in their philosophy. I urge them to read our Government’s plan to end poverty.

¶ 07 Some countries have built mass movements, with economic science, to eradicate poverty—though some cannot see that. They thrived by reducing poverty, which upsets those who thrived on it politically. The National People’s Power Government, within four to five years, will eliminate poverty permanently, make Sri Lanka prosperous, and enable all to live fulfilled lives. With that, I conclude.

¶ 08 Thank you.