The Hon. Chithral Fernando, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, while discussing the Head of Expenditure of the Ministry of Digital Economy, I propose we also create a digital Parliament. There are piles of books here that likely few even turn a page of. When I served in the North Western Provincial Council in 2013, Hansard reports and Gazette notifications were sent via email. Printing vast quantities of books is a major waste. If we are building a digital economy, Parliament must also be digitized.

¶ 02 I also wish to raise fisheries issues. I live in a major fishing zone. I thank the President for allocating Rs. 100 million to ensure fisher safety through life-saving equipment. A further Rs. 100 million has been allocated for satellite-based oceanographic information dissemination. The Hon. Fisheries Minister should clarify what exactly will be done with that Rs. 100 million for satellite technology: do we have it locally or will we obtain support abroad?

¶ 03 I highlight India’s space agency ISRO. I personally visited. Beyond space programs, they run special systems for rescuing fishers and for identifying fishing grounds. Across India, GAGAN and NavIC are operational. We studied this. Many lives are lost in our fisheries zones. As Opposition MPs, we cannot allocate the Rs. 100 million, but I requested the Indian High Commission to introduce these systems in Sri Lanka. I cannot finalize this; the Hon. Fisheries Minister can intervene. Please act. With satellite technology, in emergencies, authorities can know exact location, the nature of distress, and communicate directly to those proceeding to rescue.

¶ 04 I table the letter I sent to the Indian High Commission. We can conduct a test run and thereafter implement a national program. The VMS system is already in place at port offices around the island; the Progress Report shows it has operated since 2021. Some claim we are doing what was not done for 76 years; in fact, these systems have been in progress within those years.

¶ 05 What exactly will be done with the Rs. 100 million for satellites?

¶ 06 I personally asked ISRO whether Sri Lanka had officially requested assistance. They said no request has been made. If India can cover its territory, covering Sri Lanka—a dot on the map—would be easy. Australia has also assisted some island nations. Let us seek Indian support.

¶ 07 On another matter, stake-net (madal) fishers have been told winch use will be banned from the end of this year. There are about 900 stake-net landing points; many live by this. In Wennappuwa, Negombo, Peliyagoda, and elsewhere, this is practiced. A letter dated 04.11.2025 from the Presidential Secretariat asked for an observation report by 24.11.2025 on banning tractors fitted with winches for surrounding madal nets, together with feasible technical alternatives. Hon. Fisheries Minister, has that report been sent? If not, clarify the action to be taken. The stake-net community requests a temporary grace period while alternatives are introduced.

¶ 08 Today, an audio recording has emerged; the Deputy Minister concerned has given a statement. He is absent here, but globally he spreads narratives. Regarding 130,000 metric tons of rice, without a license, it is illegal—no matter how the audio is edited. If there is a fine of Rs. 8.4 million, the law should take its course. Do not dribble out snippets; release the full audio.

¶ 09 I have the invoice: the importer is “M/s. United Nations Human Rights Organization.” Seeing “United Nations” evokes the UN, but this is a dubious private entity—errors in basic English words on the document. Such “charities” are filling local shops with imported rice, undermining our paddy farmers who do not get a fair price. There is no drought or flood emergency necessitating free distribution. If there is no license, it is illegal. We need clear answers. The public is watching. The questions around Container 323 only grow.

¶ 10 Thank you.