The Hon. Hector Appuhamy

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, the Leader of the House scolded and scolded, and now has left the Chamber. It is okay.

¶ 02 Today’s Adjournment Debate is on the recent cyclone and flood disaster that affected our country. But now there is a question. We tell you to choose correctly who is the Opposition and who is the Government. We saw how the Hon. Minister of Education, Mr. Susil Premajayantha, presented matters very meaningfully regarding what is to be done. That is what an Opposition expects of a Government. The Opposition criticizes the Government. That is our right. That is why the people gave us their vote and sent us here.

¶ 03 When the tsunami came, and during the subsequent problems that followed in this country, did not the JVP, being then in the Opposition, tell Sri Lankans overseas not to send money to Sri Lanka? That statement was made when the country was bankrupt. But what did we do? What did the Leader of the Opposition do? The Leader of the Opposition spoke to every country in the world, met ambassadors, and at every moment asked for assistance for our country. He also called for a donors’ conference. He spoke to Sri Lankans living abroad and asked them to help as much as possible. By mobilizing Sri Lankans abroad and in Sri Lanka, the Leader of the Opposition is helping the hospital system that is facing immense challenges today. We are saying these things because a Minister criticized what the Leader of the Opposition is doing, and because that Member criticized what our Member said. Our job is not merely to criticize; their job is to come here and say what they did. Giving Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 50,000 is fine. We are not objecting to that. But remember, we can prove that some people have taken Rs. 25,000 or Rs. 50,000 even in places where the disaster did not occur.

¶ 04 You have joined with organizations set up in the villages and, in some places where there was no flooding, some Pradeshiya Sabha members have taken money. If you want, if you ask, we can provide those details with letters. So remember that there is such a component too. Next, beyond the Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 50,000, when you take the business sector, the industrial sector and other sectors in this country—[Don’t try to manage my speech. I will do what I need to do. You keep your mouth shut and let me speak. Read! Don’t try to read out everything. Take your arrogance and pride home. Show that to your women at home. This is the Supreme Parliament. Remember that. In this Parliament we speak about the people’s issues. We speak about the issues the people sent us here to speak about. We are not here to crack coconuts. Remember that.]

¶ 05 Therefore, there is an important matter we must keep in mind. If in the future the country faces a disaster like this again, prepare a plan on what to do and present it to this Parliament. That is your responsibility. Instead, you ridicule the people. Next, MPs engage in mudslinging. Sometimes they talk about MPs’ personal matters. Is that your right? That is not your right. Likewise, remember, in disasters like this we are ready at any time to give our support. The same applies even regarding education reforms. What did we say about the Grade 6 module? We talked about the website. We never said do not carry out education reforms. But what did you do? You implemented it, then said mistakes occurred, then stopped it, then brought women from your homes and even those unrelated to you to stage protests demanding it back. What kind of vigilance is that? What does it mean? When doing something, select carefully and do the right thing. Do not do it half-baked.

¶ 06 Now look at the Easter Sunday attacks. You said Sara Jasmine exists. Why is Sara Jasmine not being arrested now? Why is the mastermind not being arrested? Then came the issue of 323 containers. Where is the mastermind in that? Has this Parliament been presented with those facts? Have you discussed them? Now you hide all that and talk.

¶ 07 Not only that, look at the matter of medicines. We repeatedly said that substandard medicines are being brought from India and administered in Mannar and Kalpitiya. Not only that, some medicines are brought even through the airport. We have an issue that even the Chairman of the NMRA does not know who is acting as the mastermind there. But to this day those activities have not been stopped. Why not? Because of the Government’s support. Remember, people in this country go to hospitals and die from taking medicines; there are people dying due to bad medicines. These Ministers do not know that or do not reveal it. Therefore act fast and prevent it.

¶ 08 We also ask about the Grade 6 module. Who is the mastermind behind it? We did not insult the Prime Minister; no one insulted the Prime Minister. But remember, the insults are coming from within your own party. They come from within the JVP. Some of your Facebook groups are carrying out that abuse on social media even now. It happens openly; don’t try to hide it. That is the truth. But when that happens, don’t be ready to point fingers at others and sling mud.

¶ 09 Now there is a serious issue regarding low-grade coal. When the Norochcholai coal power plant was built, a huge injustice was done to the people of Kalpitiya—especially to the fishermen. Injustice was also done to the farmers. A large environmental injustice was done to the residents of that area. Next, the Catholic people living around the St. Anne’s Shrine (Talawila) also had to face a big problem. Now low-grade coal is being brought in. Do not be ready to burn that at the Norochcholai power plant. If you go to burn it and, due to toxic emissions, harm is caused to the people of that area, we will take to the streets with the people. We will protect the people’s rights. Because people died saying do not build that plant in that area. Ultimately it was built. The people of Kalpitiya faced that problem too. Now there has been smuggling of low-grade coal. If it is burned and harmful gases are emitted—especially if ash disperses and harms the people of that area—you must take responsibility for all of it. We will not allow injustice to the people there. We necessarily need an environmental report on how this will happen.

¶ 10 Thank you very much.