Hon. D.V. Chanaka

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, before COPE matters I must note: I have filed a case in the Colombo District Court against a major TV channel over baseless allegations linking me and my father-in-law to the underworld. We will seek justice. I also urge Government MPs: if accusations are made, respond outside too; do not hide behind parliamentary privilege. I have also sent letters of demand to several social media activists and YouTubers and will take them to court.

¶ 02 On COPE’s report regarding the airport and other projects: I ask the Chair to consider why these projects collapse. The JICA loan was obtained in 2012. Why did the project derail? Prior to 2015, a national “Lotus theme” existed — not due to Pohottuwa (formed in 2018) but under the SLFP/UPFA era — hence the Lotus Tower, airport roofs, halls followed that theme. In 2015, your government came to power; you then halted projects like Port City claiming stones would be quarried from Sigiriya; you stopped Sampur solar, searched for sandalwood trees, and so on. The cumulative losses exceed USD 10 billion; Uma Oya losses alone are USD 480 million. COPE should probe these too.

¶ 03 Under this Government, the largest fraud in history — the container fraud of 323 containers — occurred. The Government has failed to table the report of the Presidential Committee. Hon. Mujibur Rahuman has produced it. Key findings include: the Director General acted without authority; the Committee on release acted non-transparently; it exceeded its mandate; there was no real congestion; selecting 65 importers lacked any method; past offenses of these importers were concealed; conclusions state that if normal efficiency prevailed, no congestion would have arisen; the crisis was artificially created; release of red containers was unnecessary; and there was risk of weapons, narcotics, and substandard medicines. The Committee recommended a forensic audit. Where is it? Where are CID and Police investigations? Intelligence, including UNODC alerts, existed, yet containers were released. Meanwhile, substandard medicines and possibly weapons have entered the country without accountability. Thank you.