The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and the Leader of the House of Parliament

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.

¶ 02 Today we address two main matters: Rules under the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act, and a Resolution under the Essential Public Services Act. The Minister of State for Finance and Fiscal Management will clarify technical details. I will make key general points, and also refer to the statement by Minister Ananda Wijepala on the “Suresh Sallay drama.”

¶ 03 We must pursue the Easter attacks with scientific evidence, free from political speculation. Around the world, governments have “manufactured situations” to shape political outcomes—the “strategy of tension.” Examples: - Italy’s 1969 Piazza Fontana bombing: far-right neo-fascist elements (Ordine Nuovo) working with military intelligence (SID) planted false evidence to blame the Left and justify repression. - Germany’s 1933 Reichstag Fire: Nazis blamed communists to suspend liberties and arrest rivals via the Reichstag Fire Decree. - Spain’s 2004 Madrid train bombings: occurring three days before elections; attempts to frame Islamist links backfired when manipulation was exposed.

¶ 04 In Sri Lanka, the Easter attacks occurred on 21 April 2019; on 23 April 2019, Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared his presidential candidacy. The attacks devastated our economy—especially tourism—and deeply harmed Muslim and Christian communities. We must let courts determine accountability. Travel bans have been obtained against key figures; immediately thereafter, the suspect commenced a hunger strike. Despite ample medical care provided, he refuses to cooperate, including by withholding device passcodes. We will not be deterred by hunger strikes or theatrics.

¶ 05 We reject a return to elite impunity; irrespective of status—former Presidents, defence chiefs, tycoons—no one is above the law. Investigations into corruption and into Easter will proceed. We respect upright public officials who stand firm.

¶ 06 On the Central Bank Rules and the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Fund: Some claim the fund is “illegal” because there is no separate account named exactly that. In practice, public monies are received into lawful Treasury accounts under the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury and then credited to the Consolidated Fund. The public-facing label “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” is to help donors understand the purpose; legally, receipts are routed through proper Treasury accounts. Expenditure of such funds requires Parliamentary authorization. We have provisioned Rs. 500 billion for disaster-related purposes; utilization follows due process. Do not sow confusion to deter donors; we are not “tsunami thieves.” The mechanism is lawful; what matters is transparency, appropriation by Parliament, and delivery to people in need.

¶ 07 Please do not undermine good-faith public contributions by questioning the existence of a named sub-account; the legal reality is receipt and control via Treasury accounts under law, with Parliamentary oversight.

¶ 08 Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.