The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa — Minister of Health and Mass Media, and Chief Government Whip

¶ 01 Mr. Presiding Member, whatever the Standing Orders state, the Speaker allowed this debate. As far as I know, he could have refused. Usually, as per Standing Orders, notice should be given before the day’s business. But we, the Government, decided to allow this debate today; we are flexible. In the last hour and a half, the Opposition said everything they wanted. There is nothing more to say. This is nothing unusual; even if you had two more hours, you would have nothing more to add.

¶ 02 As our Ministers and Members pointed out, over the last one and a half years you keep throwing different things to see if something sticks—three days, a week. But it does not. During the “B.O.O.” cyclone period you kept beating the same dead drum. At least attend the committees you yourselves asked for. Same with the container issue. You grab anything to sustain your daily politics.

¶ 03 Anyone who listened to this debate would realize whether this group is capable of presenting facts and having a meaningful discussion about the loss of USD 2.5 million to the Treasury. An official has died. Did they speak with any sensitivity towards his life or his living family? With such behaviour, can we debate in Parliament about cyber security, safety of lives, or financial integrity? Is this how you behave?

¶ 04 Mr. Presiding Member, regarding the non-receipt of funds—after a verbal report to the Ministry of Finance on March 23, on March 24 the Director-General of the External Resources Department submitted a written complaint to the CID. Remember, it was the DG of External Resources who complained to the CID. You did not even know that.

¶ 05 As Hon. Najith Indika said, that very day a technical inquiry committee was appointed within the Ministry of Finance, comprising two Deputy Secretaries to the Treasury. On March 24 that committee was appointed. You knew nothing about it and shouted here. The committee’s report was received on April 10, with several recommendations. Based on that, four officers were transferred. While investigations continued, on April 17 those four were interdicted. You, however, only learned of the incident on April 22. For over a month, the CID and SLCERT were working; also an internal inquiry was underway; and, with technical support from the Australian Government and other bodies, we were examining where the lapse occurred and strengthening cyber security to prevent recurrence. We are also working to recover the funds. That is how a responsible Government works. You cannot grasp this.

¶ 06 In 2015, during the bond scam, your great leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, then Prime Minister, first appointed a committee of three Sirikotha lawyers—even when CB officials testified. Only after exposure did it go to COPE; otherwise you tried to cover it up. Our intention here is to conduct proper investigations—legally, financially, and technologically—to strengthen institutional and financial credibility.

¶ 07 When USD 0.6 million due from the Postal Department to the US Postal Service was not received, upon our inquiry we commenced an investigation. I told the country we were investigating; the CID was informed. We are not going to undermine confidence by shouting that postal money is going missing and refuse to remit funds. We will find where the lapse is—whether officials were complicit or whether it was an error or technical inadequacy. As a country, we must find out. That is what we are doing, seriously and deeply. Cyber intrusions can target any institutional system—not just the Central Bank, Treasury, or Postal Department. We must strengthen officials and systems for resilience.

¶ 08 Regarding the death of the Assistant Director who served in the External Resources Department—see how low they stoop to propagate it. For this, our Director-General of Health Services informed that a panel of consultant JMOs be appointed to conduct the inquest. That is the normal procedure. Accordingly, a panel of four consultant JMOs serving at Kuliyapitiya, Nikaweratiya, Anuradhapura, and Kurunegala hospitals has been appointed. As Hon. Archchuna knows, if it is not a natural death and if the cause is not apparent, the Magistrate and JMO treat it as a suspicious death—that is how the process proceeds. Later, the JMO report states the causes of death; blood and urine samples and DNA tests are sent. Only after those reports does the court receive the full post-mortem report. This is stated clearly by the four consultant JMOs. Yet you twist even this with lies. This is the standard medico-legal process.

¶ 09 You also lied that this complaint was made by the deceased officer himself. False. The written complaint regarding the financial matter was made by the Director-General of External Resources. As for claims that the wife said it was suspicious—note this: two people not present in Parliament have made public statements; we are initiating legal action against them because these statements cause deep distress to the family. Today is the sermon; tomorrow the almsgiving.