The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today we discussed three very important Ministries: the Ministry of Digital Economy; the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources; and the Ministry of Science and Technology. I sat here from morning, expecting the Opposition to conduct a serious debate on these. In the end, they spoke of trivialities. Having tried to latch onto anything, they ended up piling on our Deputy Minister Eranga to gain some traction—only to amplify it on Facebook and social media.

¶ 02 Since morning, I listened to the debate. When the Leader of the Opposition—your leader—came in carrying a big box, I thought he would reveal something dramatic. But what came out of it was nothing more than a harmless snake—there was no substance. Mujibur Rahuman, you can admit that. In today’s debate on Fisheries, there was nothing meaningful for the sector—only racist, hysterical rhetoric from one Member who recently boasted he would be President in 2029. Such speeches do not serve the people or fisheries.

¶ 03 To those who think they will be the country’s next leader, let me say: the way you behave and the environment you create will never earn you the people’s mandate. We continuously hear racist words from some. They act as if others are racists, labelling the JVP as racists against Tamils and Muslims, which is false. Let me remind Hon. Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and others: we, the JVP, took up arms twice in this country; over 80,000 of our comrades and leaders were killed. Never in those times—or at any time—have we harmed even the shadow of a Tamil or Muslim person on racist grounds. That is why, in the last General Election, while your party fell from two seats to one in Jaffna, our party won three across Jaffna and Vanni. The people supported us because we treat Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim citizens with equality and respect, and because of our leader’s conduct.

¶ 04 Finally, I thank all who contributed to today’s debate on our Ministry and shared views to strengthen fisheries and uplift fisher communities. Over the past week, our Ministry officials, including the Secretary, Directors General, Deputy Minister Ratna Gamagē, Parliamentary staff and all who supported, compiled the data and guided us. I thank and congratulate them. I also thank the Secretaries and officials of the Digital Economy and Science & Technology Ministries who listened to the debate and guided their Ministers. Thank you.