Hon. Amila Prasad

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, thank you. Today’s regulation under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act addresses a technical issue preventing the required number of vehicles for tourism from arriving. If tourism is so profitable, why do such issues arise, and why are businessmen not investing? The Government has a duty to examine this.

¶ 02 A few other issues: At the start, the Education Minister said politicians would not be brought into schools. Yet today, a State Minister is conducting an event at Gampaha Rathnawali Balika Vidyalaya. As Hon. Archchuna asked: are the rules only for the Opposition? The Education Minister must clarify how politicians attend school events.

¶ 03 Yesterday, another Bill with many technical issues was brought. We oppose corporal punishment. But consider Haiti’s 2003 law; it destabilized their education system and child-related concepts. We ask the 159 Members in Government: before bringing technical Bills, study global consequences where similar laws were introduced.

¶ 04 On “abuse” and “insult,” as raised by Hon. Ajith P. Perera: when NGOs bring money to push such agendas, it can devastate our education system; teachers are bewildered, schools cannot function. Instead of solutions, Ministers go to school ceremonies to promote politics, while we oppose that.

¶ 05 Amid these technical issues, many OICs were transferred recently—mostly to general duties, including in major stations. This signals pressure on OICs who do not bow, showing others “the consequence if you don’t obey.” The Government seems slowly trying to bend the law.

¶ 06 It extends beyond the State sector. For 25 years, the “Vidarshana Publishers,” a leading contributor to the Book Fair, have been excluded this year—denied required floor space. Why? After the President’s election last year, social media showed he “walked quickly” near their stall; now they were denied space. Pressure is now on private sector too.

¶ 07 This Government keeps calling us thieves to cover its own faults. It has been a year. Has the Government conducted audits and produced outcomes on theft of public funds? The President said at the UN: “The fight against corruption is dangerous; not fighting it is even more dangerous.” True—but corruption is not only stealing public funds. There are many ways MPs—even in Opposition—can raise money. I challenge this Government: you 159 are the paragons; we are called thieves, weeds. Then accept this challenge.

¶ 08 From 21 September last year to 21 September this year, publish your bank statements—money in and out—for the people to see. Technical issues may exist in asset declarations, but banks record inflows and outflows. Show them and prove your virtue.

¶ 09 Let me add to the President’s quote: “The desire to conceal is fear. Fear is bad and improper. Be fearless, and everything else will happen naturally.” Be fearless, you 159 MPs—show your bank statements for the past year, and let the rest follow naturally. Thank you.