The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, under Head 1028, a Supplementary Estimate of Rs. 6.5 billion is proposed. The Hon. Prime Minister stated that these funds are to provide school supplies to children—possibly including uniforms and other necessary items. However, the problem is this: earlier, when school uniforms were provided, they were given to all students without discrimination. While I was not 100 percent in agreement, I still believe it is not good to show differences among children in a classroom—poor versus rich. That harms education and mental wellbeing. I am not saying everyone must receive benefits. But at least all who apply and are in need should be provided for. The allocated amount is not sufficient even for the minimum number of students who must be covered. According to the Prime Minister, this should reach at least 2.1 million children, but the funds are insufficient even for them. That creates an issue—especially for a Government that believes in socialism and equality. It should be corrected: provide uniforms to all children who apply and are in need. Poverty has risen in the last 2–3 years; more families have fallen into poverty. You said that beyond those already receiving Aswesuma benefits, you would also grant to new applicants; the same approach should extend here to school uniforms and supplies. Dividing a class into those who receive and those who do not will create social division in the minds of small children. As a teacher, I know how a child interprets that. Remove that dividing line and allocate sufficient funds to provide for all who need. If necessary, increase the allocation.

¶ 02 I also see a serious concern here. Your election policies stated you would remove VAT on educational and school supplies. It seems you have not done so, perhaps due to lack of IMF approval. Are you trying to manage this by balancing elsewhere and, in the meantime, providing uniforms in some form? It appears you are not removing VAT on educational and school items as promised.

¶ 03 Hon. Bimal Rathnayake just asked me to withdraw a previous statement I made about the PTA; that is a minor request compared to other serious statements you made which affected us internationally. Your President is Anura Kumara Dissanayake; he is our President too. He is visiting India today. I recall that a few years ago, Hon. Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa pointed a finger at India over the Easter attacks, suggesting India should bear responsibility. If so, the first thing the President should do in India is to withdraw and apologize for that statement by Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa. Not the PTA comment I made, which the Hon. Minister of Public Security has already corrected. What matters more are the statements that angered India and affect our bilateral policies. I believe Hon. Lal Kantha agrees, seeing even Hon. Bimal Rathnayake sat down after rising.

¶ 04 You came to catch thieves. The first exposed wrongdoing was theft in education—fake credentials. If someone stole in education, can we trust they did not steal elsewhere? The Prime Minister pointed her finger at us, saying we in the Opposition were digging into your educational certificates. But we did not discover these; civil activists did—former Elections Commissioner, Nimal Ranjith Devasiri, and many on social media who worked for you discussed these issues. Do not blame us for that. On the first day, I even gave you a certificate of goodwill, saying I believed those who came are not thieves. Now I am forced to revisit that, having to speak about allegations that Mr. Asoka Ranwala’s doctorate was obtained improperly. Do not make us doubt everything else about you. The public is beginning to doubt.

¶ 05 The Hon. Deputy Speaker Riswi Sali is in the Chair. Your publications stated you are a specialist doctor. On the Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya’s Facebook page, you were introduced as part of the NPP Colombo District Team with the title “Specialist Dr. Mohammad Riswi Sali, National Executive Council Member.” Sir, forgive me for raising this while you are in the Chair, but it is in your own materials. If your leaflets and key tags carried it, we are compelled to discuss it.

¶ 06 You know the Medical (Amendment) Act, No. 28 of 2018. Under Section 39A it clearly states that no person who is not a specialist medical practitioner or specialist dental practitioner registered under Section 39 shall use any name, title, or addition to imply or cause any person to believe that he is such a specialist; nor by any act or omission, intentionally allow such belief. If any candidate’s leaflet stated “lawyer,” “doctor,” or “specialist” without proper registration, especially for medical titles, it is prohibited under law. If such printing was done, it must be corrected. The PM’s page called you a specialist doctor on the Colombo team—then it is wrong. The public may have been misled; candidates who lost in Colombo or Gampaha might have been disadvantaged. You came to power on public opinion; now you must act accordingly.

¶ 07 I remember your talk on wine stores. First you beat the drums saying MPs were involved, then tabled a document. That document did not contain names of politicians. When we asked who were involved, you said licenses would be cancelled. A month has passed. Have those wine store licenses been cancelled? If not, won’t people suspect that money was paid to someone among you? You announced hundreds of cancellations. Why is it not happening now? What is the legal barrier?

¶ 08 Hon. Bimal Rathnayake: “You thought because they gave you, they would give us too. We won’t get it.”

¶ 09 Hon. Deputy Speaker, we were not given anything. Do not link us. If we are involved, name us: “Nalin Bandara owns a wine store.” We do not. We are asking you to correct wrongs. Name those who hold licenses improperly, even if from our side. You said licenses would be cancelled. Do it, or the public will suspect payments were made to you. Respect the public mandate you received.

¶ 10 Finally, Hon. Prime Minister, it is good to help poor children with school supplies and uniforms. But do not create divisions inside classrooms. Provide to those who apply and are in need, and handle distributions outside the classroom to avoid stigmatization.

¶ 11 Thank you.