The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity. First, I express gratitude to all who voted for me in the Galle District, at a challenging time for our political camp, when only three MPs from our party were elected nationwide.

¶ 02 My political foundation arose from a decision by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa which enabled me, after securing the highest preferential votes at local polls, to become a Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman. I pay respect to him. I also thank Ministers Chandima Weerakkody and Ramesh Pathirana under whom I began political work.

¶ 03 As new MPs, we listened. Since day one, talk centered on the “76-year curse,” fraud, and corruption. In this debate on the Vote on Account, I remind those speaking of the 76-year curse where it came from. Post-independence we had the 1971 insurrection, Black July 1983, the 1988–89 youth insurrection, the 30-year war, the tsunami, the Easter attacks by Zaharan, the COVID-19 pandemic, and frequent trade union actions—all of which set the country back.

¶ 04 As we try to move beyond this so-called 76-year curse and with the new people’s mandate, we wish the new rulers well. Those who led strikes on issues of fisheries, education, health, and agriculture now hold ministries. They must turn words into reality.

¶ 05 Finally, a word of caution: in speaking of nationalism, do not allow terrorism to rise again. As Acton said, “Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” May it not be so. Thank you.