The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I welcome the chance to speak, with limited time to make key points.

¶ 02 A Minister called us a “destructive Opposition.” Those who sat in Opposition and destroyed in the past are now in Government; that is why we are painted that way. We have supported good measures and worked together; we did not just walk the streets criticizing.

¶ 03 Even now the Government cannot present an accurate total of the dead and missing, while holding ceremonies to distribute death certificates and posing for photos—people weeping as they collect them—then splashing it in papers and TV.

¶ 04 During disaster relief, the only task is to empower the process. The Opposition Leader, Hon. S. M. Marikkar, and our Members are strongly supporting the Disaster Management Centre. Let me address the Meteorology Department. You said from the start that Met officers failed to warn. The Sri Lanka Association of Meteorologists issued a four-page media release, which I table, stating they warned authorities from the 23rd about atmospheric disturbances; on 24th issued an amber advisory to small-scale fishers; on the 25th at 10.00 a.m. a Red Notice; and on the 26th at 10.30 p.m. an alert. So the warnings were issued. The Met Department and DMC fall under the President. Yet the Director General of Meteorology has been treated like a prisoner—kept at home, unable to even speak to his child. If possible, allow him to hold a press briefing. Do not intimidate state officials to retract statements.

¶ 05 Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe said Rs. 5 million would be paid to affected businesses. As I know, the current arrangement gives Rs. 200,000 to small and medium enterprises to restart. I urge the Government to create a concessional loan scheme at 7–8% interest for their basic expenses so they can recover.

¶ 06 Next, children’s medicines: there is a serious issue. Dr. Bellana’s work has been suspended; he has been removed, because he complained to the Bribery Commission about a Rs. 2,500 million fraud between 2022 and 2024. I respectfully request the DG of Bribery to investigate—there is an audit trail. The Deputy Minister of Health is here; please investigate. He was pushed out because he exposed this.

¶ 07 Amid the floods, a major fraud is happening in maize imports. Initially, 37,500 MT (12,500 MT each) were to be given to MS White Pearl Mills and WAH Industries. Now the allotments have been split among four firms: Golden Foods Agro (Pvt) Ltd 5,100 MT, MF Feeds (Pvt) Ltd 5,100 MT, etc. Maize that should land at about Rs. 115 per kilo is now sold at Rs. 170—Rs. 55–70 more—on 20,000 MT this is about Rs. 1,400 million. While the country is dealing with floods, they are looting through maize. Many small poultry farmers need maize; allow them to import small quantities too. Presently, licenses are given to only four companies, who then sell at Rs. 190 per kilo. Rs. 1.4 billion is being split among four companies. Not only STC and those companies—where else is this money going? I ask Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe—who was here—to clarify. Give this benefit to poultry producers, not to company cronies. Thank you.