The Hon. D.V. Chanaka
Supported the Supplementary Estimate, noting that the Opposition backs allocations for children’s education relief while suggesting greater funding would be preferable. Raised concern over media reports that tri-forces protection for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa may be withdrawn and reduced to police protection, questioning the rationale and claimed Rs. 300 million cost saving, especially in comparison with STF resources used for prisoner transport.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. We, even as Opposition, support this Supplementary Estimate; though more would be better, we support relief to children for education.
¶ 02 If the Hon. Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs were here, better. Media reported that tri-forces protection given to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to be fully withdrawn, leaving only about 60 police officers. Meanwhile, media also reported that two STF vehicles escort a single prisoner during transport. Yet, the STF and military protection for the leader who ended the war is withdrawn. The Minister has said military protection costs Rs. 300 million; if they are withdrawn, does that cost vanish? No; those officers return to their camps.
¶ 03 Order, please! The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees will now take the Chair.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Tuesday, 17 December 2024 ·No. 1734685396083959 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. D.V. Chanaka. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 17 December 2024. No. 1734685396083959. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/18213