The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour

¶ 01 Madam Deputy Chairperson of Committees, today we debate important Orders and Regulations. The Stamp Duty (Special Provisions) Act has not been revised for years; updating it via this Order is necessary, as the State Minister of Finance explained.

¶ 02 As councils that some tried to capture are collapsing, their lamentations are unsurprising. In both the last and the 2019 presidential elections, their leaders campaigned against the SLPP, vowing to punish the corrupt. Today they are making peculiar deals, splitting councils, and sharing positions. In Kandana PS, even SJB members were restrained because they disagreed with their leadership’s decisions—that reflects members’ true conscience.

¶ 03 As the NPP-led government methodically lifts the country—attracting investors, increasing reserves, bringing inflows—our opponents are disoriented and attack us. Let me assure: whoever supports us, our actions against corruption and criminals will not stop. They now speak of deals between Namal and Sajith, sharing chairs where the SJB is weaker than the SLPP. Their own supporters will not accept such deals, and soon voters will abandon them. We already see party memberships being cancelled.

¶ 04 We have always called thieves “thieves” without fear—because we are not thieves. If there is to be a government that punishes thieves, it will be the NPP government; this is the only camp not led by crooks. Some say there are NPP Deputy Mayors. If you oppose it, act. Another MP claimed advances of Rs. 1.5 million to buy members—file complaints at the Bribery Commission. They work impartially; if not, we will intervene to ensure action.

¶ 05 They should be ashamed. Did they fight corruption? At a rally yesterday, did they say a word? They once saved Keheliya from a no-confidence motion; those who protected him then now pose as saints. Filing cases is easy; punishing thieves was beyond Ranil–Sajith–Maithri’s government from 2015 to 2019.

¶ 06 They threaten that the Western Province Commissioner would be brought to justice when their government returns. Dream on. This government will protect all upright officers who act according to the law. State officers are not divided as NPP and Opposition; they should be divided as for or against corruption. Those against corruption will be protected; those who engage in wrongdoing will be opposed.

¶ 07 Hon. Harsha de Silva said earlier we criticized Mahinda Siriwardana; indeed, we had concerns then, and he has since explained his actions. He works well with us now, as do many officers appointed under different political dispensations; we only ask that they serve the people and contribute to recovery.

¶ 08 It is not a joke: Mahinda Siriwardana has now been named as Executive Director at the Asian Development Bank—by this government. We stand by capable officers and act against those who do not perform.

¶ 09 Regarding the repeated claim about Rs. 12.8 million salaries at the CIABOC Secretariat, Hon. Ananda Wijepala clarified yesterday what actually occurred. Yet the same accusation is repeated. If needed, at the next sitting, table the documents again.

¶ 10 Now, let me also table documents regarding Ms. Nithya Senani Samaranayake, an officer of SriLankan Airlines, seconded to the Presidential Secretariat as a Special Projects Coordinator, who drew Rs. 70,500 per month from the airline and Rs. 87,680 from the Secretariat—totalling Rs. 428,000 over the period—while allegedly having no designated office room at the Secretariat but operating at Temple Trees with Hon. Namal Rajapaksa on a project. Two companies reportedly faced money-laundering action totaling Rs. 45 million. Those living in glass houses should not throw stones. While they attack CIABOC—a lawful institution—let them also explain these matters. I request these documents be placed in the Library.

¶ 11 To the people, we say: the NPP government’s only deal is with the people of Sri Lanka. We have no deals with fraudsters and criminals. All such persons will be lawfully punished. No matter how many coalitions our opponents stitch together, the people have not given them a mandate—neither at presidential, parliamentary, nor local elections—to “pair up” SLPP with SJB or UNP. Today, even many of their own councillors’ conscience aligns with the NPP. Thank you.