The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, thank you.

¶ 02 The previous Hon. Member spoke on allocations for digitalization. Funds are allocated, yes; but are they being put to practical use on the ground? The Minister of Science and Technology is not here now. Hon. Harsha de Silva raised tenders, asked how they were altered, and then left. My question is: of last year’s allocations to the Digital Economy Ministry, how much was actually spent to digitize the State and citizen services? The roadmap is not new; we began it, then it stopped with a change of Government, and now it restarts. But you must be accountable for practical implementation. Even the President told Parliament that of funds allocated for 100 telecom towers, only about 30 were built. If you cannot even erect a phone tower, there is little point in grand talk of digitalization. We will watch whether you act honestly.

¶ 03 On fisheries: during the campaign, the President said, “We are surrounded by the sea; I will build the economy from the sea; we do not need the IMF.” You came to power saying that, and today you are with the IMF—which is fine—but according to the Department of Census and Statistics, last year inland fisheries declined by 34% and marine fisheries by 5%. Today, you do not stock reservoirs with fish fingerlings, yet the Agriculture Minister says he will “protect tanks.” We do not know what deal he has with fisheries societies, but inland fisheries are collapsing.