The Hon. Gayantha Karunatilleka

¶ 01 Please give me two more minutes, Hon. Presiding Member.

¶ 02 The President said on TV recently that the Government knows all the details of current rice stocks, that there are excess stocks, and that discussions were held with mill owners; he spoke strongly about acting if they do not release at controlled prices. With a two-thirds-type power and all the information, he still cannot act. Those who asked for power to end the rice mafia are silent with a Cabinet in hand. They said not a single grain would be imported; now reports say you plan to import thousands of tons. You have turned the poor man’s meal into a luxury: coconut sambol and rice have become luxuries.

¶ 03 I will not speak at length about interest-free loans from banks or reducing VAT on essential foods—too early, you’ve only been in power about 60 days. But on fuel prices, electricity tariffs and rice, you can act immediately. The people ask whether you have forgotten what you said. If you cannot do these, why seek a two-thirds mandate?

¶ 04 Hon. Presiding Member, due to time I will stop. The people await your long-term promises, but these immediate steps on electricity, fuel and rice can and must be done quickly.