The Hon. Dinesh Hemantha

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today we debate the Fourth Report of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) that has been tabled. Since this morning, Members on both sides have spoken about many institutions examined by COPE and the financial irregularities, frauds, and corruption revealed therein. I too will briefly speak about an irregularity we examined at COPE regarding the Mahapola Higher Education Trust Fund.

¶ 02 The Mahapola Fund spent Rs. 1,438 million and started, on land belonging to the Mahapola Trust Fund, an Information Technology institute—SLIIT—as its subsidiary under a company structure, charging fees from students for various technical courses under this 51:49 arrangement and running multiple programmes.

¶ 03 Over time, SLIIT became a highly profitable institution. Its Board of Directors then saw an opportunity: if this revenue-generating institution could be converted into a private entity, it would be a good investment. Accordingly, with the then Government—particularly in 2015—several agreements were signed, and ultimately an understanding was reached that SLIIT could, upon paying the amount assessed to the Mahapola Trust Fund, become a private institution. The key issue revealed was this: while operating under the Mahapola Trust Fund, SLIIT did not pay any of the profits or income back to the Mahapola Trust Fund but retained them, and then, as per those agreements, used the very funds that should have gone to Mahapola to make payments for the assets and arrangements in question, and today functions as a private institution, conducting its affairs as it pleases. Among the many irregularities discussed this morning, this is one such major revelation.

¶ 04 With the Fourth COPE Report before the House, our Hon. Chairman and Members have clearly explained the progress of COPE.

¶ 05 Hon. Presiding Member, Government and Opposition Members sit on two sides and argue on various matters. However, there is a common cause on which we should not be divided: under the theme of eradicating corruption and fraud, neither Government nor Opposition has the right to justify or debate in favour of wrongdoing. When it comes to corruption, misuse of public funds, and abuse of public property, there must be no partisan divide. On that theme, neither side has the right to obstruct or trivialize the process.

¶ 06 Every Member who comes to this Parliament carries a duty—to realise the hopeful dream of each voter for a good and beautiful country. Too often, some Members, especially some in the Opposition, prefer that a clip from their speech goes viral on radio, newspapers, Facebook, or YouTube, and use that media coverage to build their personal political image. But if, in pursuing personal image-building, the expectations of the people who gave us the mandate are dimmed, we have no right—Government or Opposition—to act in that manner.

¶ 07 When I say “we”, I do not mean only the 159 on the Government benches; I mean all 225 Members. Though we are divided by party and colour outside, inside this Chamber we must create the environment to build the good and beautiful country our people desire. Therefore, while some try to build their personal image through the media, if that effort blurs the hopes of our voters, we in this Parliament bear responsibility to prevent that.

¶ 08 Today, with regard to fiscal discipline and financial scrutiny, COPE, COPA, and the Auditor General’s Department, together, are building a new political culture. Under this culture, everyone must be subject to the law, and there must be transparency in public functions and state financing.

¶ 09 Thus, when the Government builds this culture, the Opposition, too, has a responsibility to contribute. Whatever our parties and colours, the real lives of our people are harder than we imagine. Those hardships cannot be solved superficially. We must provide true, long-term solutions to lift those lives to a better place. That responsibility rests not only on the Government benches of the National People’s Power, but also on the shoulders of the Opposition.

¶ 10 Finally, let us debate and argue—but beyond our personal political ambitions, there are a few priorities that must come first. Foremost among them is “my country.” The country must remain united; the lives of our children and the future generations must come first. Our objective to create a prosperous country and beautiful lives for the future generations must be above our personal political goals.

¶ 11 As the NPP Government, we invite the Opposition, with respect, to join our effort to build a prosperous country and a beautiful life for our children—a task that we could not complete in the past but will strive to deliver for future generations. Whatever topics we may disagree on, there is one theme on which we can move forward without disagreement: eradicating fraud and corruption. Let us unite behind this new programme, support the measures that COPE will take going forward, and respond positively. With that appeal, I conclude. Thank you.