Hon. Hector Appuhamy

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity.

¶ 02 Today we debate regulations under the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act and similar legal instruments. Government speakers keep aligning today’s moves with what past governments did. We are asking for present and future plans. How is the Government governing today? Under emergency law. Why is an emergency needed? Because of fear that people, trade unions, and institutions will take to the streets due to the economic hardships people face. Instead of taking responsibility, you have offloaded that burden onto the people and chosen to rule through fear. This exposes your failure.

¶ 03 You now speak of long-term and short-term programmes. Two years have passed; the President has about three years left—five in total. What is “long-term”? 10, 15, 20 years? Do you expect to remain in power for more than five years? There can be no such political plan; and you cannot claim that only a long-term plan can solve problems. We do not see in your development proposals the mechanisms to strengthen the economy and mobilize the funds it needs. The Government is flush with tax revenue, but the people have grown poorer. So have businesses and industries. Hence your focus on exporters’ dollars under the CBSL Act regulations. We ask: did you actually consider exporters’ legitimate dollar needs? That is our concern—not about this being a tax, but about ensuring the falling businesses are supported back to strength. Please also address other sectoral issues.

¶ 04 Take fisheries: small and large boat sectors face a severe fuel price problem. Kerosene has risen by over Rs. 100 from prior levels; diesel too is up significantly. Fishers’ livelihoods have collapsed. Despite promising relief, the Government has repeatedly failed to deliver. We urge immediate implementation of a fuel subsidy to fishers. Otherwise the fisheries sector will collapse, along with the social conditions of fishing families, including their children’s education.

¶ 05 Conduct a survey and see: many have moored their large boats; small boats cannot sustain operations. This will hit exports heavily in the future. When coastal fishers’ incomes fall nationwide, social conditions deteriorate too.

¶ 06 On agriculture: statistics aside, visit Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa and speak to farmers. Fertilizer subsidies are not reaching on time; some new farmers get nothing. The Government has not organized delivery schedules. Farmers’ livelihoods and national food security suffer.

¶ 07 On health: there is a severe shortage of medicines across hospitals. We saw the SPC Chairman and MD resign. Why? Because they know serious problems are looming when medicines arrive. Yet the Chairman of the NMRA—who bears special responsibility—remains in office. Why? Is there a link with import groups or an agenda to protect new agreements with India? We raised SPC issues earlier; now the SPC Chairman is out. Why not the NMRA Chairman, appointed by the previous government? You blame former governments and officials while keeping their appointees. We will submit documents to Parliament. Ministers must seek facts and act, not carry others’ burdens. People are skipping meals. Please act responsibly, with the people in mind, not with knee-jerk reactions.

¶ 08 Thank you.