The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Fell? How? Some have assets of Rs. 250 to 300 million — the only thing that fell was their dirty clothes! People draw Rs. 1.2 to 1.5 million as deposits; when asset declarations become public, some show assets of Rs. 70 to 80 million and more. What collapse? Ministers’ suits and cars show otherwise. If in a “collapsed” country, without doing business, politicians can amass Rs. 300 to 400 million, that is not a collapse — that is a paradise for some!

¶ 02 I was speaking about resignations. You laugh, but 20 to 25 percent of our people are poor. Eighteen percent draw less than Rs. 16,000 per month. Do not disturb. You came here for those poor people. We are not mudslinging anyone by name or secretaries or foreign trips. We talk policy. Give me space as we give you.

¶ 03 Today the Hon. Minister of Justice said, “When we took over in 2024, gas cylinders were exploding and there was no electricity.” He did not say they were handed a country at war. Hon. Speaker, the 2024 Annual Economic Review states under “Sri Lanka’s Economy Returning to Normalcy”: inflation at negative 1.7 percent; GDP growth 5.2 percent; per capita GDP USD 4,516; interest rate 8.9 percent; private sector credit growth 10.7 percent; exchange rate Rs. 293 per USD then — Rs. 307 today. We restored normalcy and handed over the country. The World Bank said Sri Lanka was the best among 123 countries in regaining macroeconomic stability due to Central Bank independence, debt restructuring, and reforms — all done by us, as at 23.04.2025.

¶ 04 Thereafter, the World Bank cautioned that stability is incomplete due to poverty at 22 to 25 percent; 10 percent are just above the poverty line; a small shock can push poverty to 32 percent. Yet a Minister shamelessly says Aswesuma applicants are “beggars,” when 83 percent of households have applied. Are they beggars? Innocent villagers who do not do deals or thefts. You came to power on their backs; now when they ask for relief, you insult them. The President’s Budget speech told protesters, “Do not be on the streets, go home; our policy is this.” The same people who protested against every project — roads, airports, private universities, power plants — now tell protesters to go home. They opposed expressways then; today they talk of building a road through the sea!

¶ 05 This Budget’s language is straight from the IMF: “Budget should be aligned with programme’s parameters to continue building fiscal…” Previously it was Peter Breuer; now it is Mr. Papageorgiou. It looks like he drafted our Budget. The IMF is the moneylender; the World Bank looks at development. The IMF tells us: tax this, remove that. Since they lend, we accept much — fiscal discipline is fine — but we need to see how people live. As a Government we have a duty there too.

¶ 06 What does the US Government say? The US Department of State issued a travel warning against visiting Sri Lanka. Julie Chung, your best friend, enjoyed our hospitality here — parties and whisky — and then warns others not to come, saying there are risks. Meanwhile, at the UN, the President says Sri Lanka is a land of thieves and drugs and gangs. Is that how you promote tourism? You should say we are a beautiful country with growth potential and opportunities.

¶ 07 This Government can only fine people through the Police, jail those who speak, and take revenge. That is all they can do. Earlier they showcased vehicles at Galle Face; now those same vehicles are being used secretly. Then came lists upon lists: bar permits, the Easter attacks, the Batalanda Report — they shouted about it and then reversed in a month. Then came animal census, counting Sambar and peacocks — at least some entertainment value! Then they started jailing. They controlled President Wickremesinghe’s security details to fix opponents. Now even I will write and ask to reassign security. What did Ministers do? For four air tickets given to MPs to go to the UK, when the lights were off they sneaked into Business Class. The cabin crew did not know — four ghosts in Business Class! That is misuse of public funds — all four can be jailed.

¶ 08 Back to the US warning: in September 2025 the US State Department said anti-Western sentiments, inconsistent policies, lack of open dialogue with the BOI, unnecessary regulation, and weak official responsiveness prevail; and although the President pledged action on corruption, a favoured clique corrupts institutions. As a result, investments are uncertain. Companies are leaving: HSBC, Standard Chartered, Orange factory — many industries are exiting Sri Lanka.

¶ 09 I am not making baseless criticisms; I have over 200 news items. The President once said, “I do not need the IMF; I will rescue the country from the high seas.” Later the IMF said there is no alternative to Ranil’s path; Sri Lanka must remain on reform track. You say we predicted the Government would fall in two, five or six months — we said that because you threatened to tear up the IMF programme. Had you done so, the Government would have fallen within months. So you kept the programme; only repackaged policies. Some now praise the President for embracing the open economy. If you change your policies like that, you are a fraudster.

¶ 10 In 2018, reserves were USD 10.8 billion; FDI to industries was about 13 percent; now it is 5 percent. Without boosting industrial production, creating zones, and producing electrical and electronic items, Sri Lanka cannot move up. Around Sri Lanka there is a wind corridor — we can build 60 gigawatts. Why did Adani walk away? In projects of 500–1,000 MW, a kWh can be bought at USD cts 8.25; for 50 MW additions, USD cts 3.5–4.0, i.e., around Rs. 23 per unit, while we pay Rs. 60. Who will invest here? If we had allowed 500–1,000 MW, even 2 GW, we could export 2,000 MW to India. That is what you should have done this year instead of jailing us.

¶ 11 Hon. Speaker

¶ 12 Hon. Member, you have two more minutes.