The Hon. S.M. Marikkar

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, before I begin, I must note: the Leader of the House spoke to Opposition Members in an inappropriate manner, and you justified it. If he behaves like that, do we continue to say “Hon. Members, Hon. Ministers,” and even “Hon. Speaker”? The Chair must ensure improper words are expunged.

¶ 02 Hon. Speaker, when Anura Kumara Dissanayake took office, the dollar was Rs. 292; today it is Rs. 343—up by Rs. 51. For every one-rupee depreciation against the dollar, debt increases by Rs. 40 billion. Since the President took office and failed to contain the dollar, our debt burden has risen by about Rs. 2,000 billion. Go and see how people live—how they pay their electricity bills.

¶ 03 In 76 years, never have electricity tariffs been raised twice within two months. Never did we hear the Central Bank was hacked. Never were harvest payments made twice. Never did RDA contractors get double payments due to bank error. Never did we hear USD 60 million sent via the Post went missing. Incompetents have intimidated even the Speaker and run away after giving false talk. The Leader of the House bolted. When the dollar rises by Rs. 51, they cannot face it.

¶ 04 When they took over, total debt was USD 93 billion; now it is USD 107.2 billion. In 20 months, debt is up USD 14.2 billion—Rs. 28.2 trillion to Rs. 33.3 trillion. For what? Airports? Harbours? New airports? No—just a painted wall at the Pettah bus stand, covered at the back with cloth. The bitter truth is exposed.

¶ 05 They blame the Middle East war to cover up. How can that be, when remittances rose by USD 815 million? Without capacity and trust, FDIs do not come. How much FDI came? Only USD 108 million to the CSE. What are they doing?

¶ 06 They said they would not ban vehicle imports, but instead slapped a 50 percent surcharge—effectively a ban. We hear two companies close to the Government, which gives the President sycophantic praise, opened LCs the day before for 3,500 and 500 vehicles respectively. Investigate this. That is the payoff, the applause drums. The people have been dragged into misery.

¶ 07 This morning the dollar was Rs. 342 at a bank; within an hour it rose by one rupee—raising debt by Rs. 40 billion in an hour. That is why they duck and run; that is why they say “thamusé.” Go tell your “thamusé” talk at Pelawatte. 1988–89 is over. If you come that way, we are ready too.

¶ 08 We do not ask if you made sulphuric acid from seawater or gave fishermen apps. We ask for an economy where people can afford to eat with their earnings; where farmers get fertilizer to produce; an electricity bill households can pay; and to implement your promises to recover the stolen wealth.

¶ 09 You challenged us to go to the people rather than speak behind microphones. We will do that—village by village next month. If you can, go too. In 2022, elites stood aloof; in the end they came and told us those in ties at the front were robbing while we stood behind. That will happen again. Next time many of you will not return to Parliament. You will be ousted not by anyone else, but by the women of this country—the housewives. You told them on YouTube and TikTok you would cut electricity bills by 33 percent—then raised them by 43 percent. You said you would remove VAT on food, education, and health; prices did not fall. You said fuel would be sold at landed cost; but prices soared and you added Rs. 128 in taxes. Women thought when Anura Kumara Dissanayake took power and stopped corruption, they would have Rs. 10,000–15,000 more for the kitchen; instead costs rose by about Rs. 25,000. Many men voted for Sajith Premadasa while many women voted for Anura expecting relief; now those same women will remove you.

¶ 10 Even your mud brigades cannot stop this slide. At this rate the dollar will reach Rs. 360. The people must now understand the bitter truth: these incompetents cannot bring FDI, cannot stabilize the dollar, cannot find new revenues, cannot create jobs, cannot provide fertilizer, cannot control electricity tariffs or prices. In short, they cannot control anything except padding their own pockets.

¶ 11 People thought only for 76 years did corruption and inefficiency exist; but in these 20 months they now see how it truly is. In 1990 when the US went to war via Kuwait, President Ranasinghe Premadasa did not raise fuel prices just because there was a war. He created 200 garment factories, increased export income, controlled fuel prices, and provided “Janasaviya.” Today you just follow the IMF. Back then, because he increased domestic revenues, when the IMF sought an appointment, he had the spine to tell them to meet him at Keselwatta on a Sunday. That is leadership.

¶ 12 Hon. Speaker, I have two minutes. I will finish.

¶ 13 [Expunged on the order of the Chair.]

¶ 14 Protect Members’ rights, be impartial, and ensure fairness—that is your duty. Even during the Rajapaksa era, with the Speaker being a brother of the President, he behaved better than you are now. Whatever faults the Rajapaksas had, they behaved decently here. Preserve the dignity of that Chair.

¶ 15 I am speaking within my time. After you cease to be Speaker, you will have to return to your medical practice—go back to your village. Understand that.

¶ 16 Finally, no one knows when this kite with the broken string—the dollar—will fly off again. God save the Government! Even your “mud brigades” cannot save you. I conclude. Thank you.