The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, as the previous Minister noted, freedom, unity, and security must coexist when we discuss human rights. Today, however, a regrettable situation has arisen at Tissa Viharaya in Kankesanthurai, a temple with traditions since King Devanampiyatissa. Daily protests and fasts occur there. Historically, from Portuguese, Dutch, and British times, Tissa Viharaya’s lands are documented; even Hammenhiel Fort stones and grounds trace to it. Yet now Tissa Viharaya faces a sorry state. The law, religion, and peace must be equal for all—no region can have a different religion or law.

¶ 02 A Member of this Parliament repeatedly creates issues over Tissa Viharaya—this must be noted. We cannot move forward by forgetting history, nor by removing history from curricula. Human rights violations occurred not only in the North and East; Uva Province faced brutal violations under the Portuguese, Dutch, and British—genocidal campaigns. I expected our Minister Hon. Vijitha Herath, hailing from Bandarawela schools, to mention Uva’s history too.

¶ 03 On farmers: in Welimada and Uva Paranagama, the potato harvest is now being dumped; Dambulla market refuses consignments; farm-gate prices are below LKR 200/kg. Potato farmers live and educate their children from potatoes. Yet every season, governments import potatoes, depressing prices—this Government too. Give priority to local potatoes at least for 2–3 months in season—through the Consumer Affairs Authority and the Trade Ministry. I have raised this before; no action yet.

¶ 04 On rule of law: before Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe even went to give a statement, a YouTube personality proclaimed he’d be remanded for 14 days, and indeed the court decision matched. Is this acceptable? Recently at a National Gem and Jewellery Authority event, a YouTuber crudely insulted the Prime Minister—shameful. Courts must decide, and police must act properly, not social media.

¶ 05 On how this Government was elected: postal workers, CEB staff delivering bills, Water Board staff, hospital staff—even doctors and health workers—urged votes for “Maalima” (NPP). Principals and teachers did likewise; Divisional Secretariats and officers campaigned. Therefore, now give those public servants their due—permits, regularizations. Yet permits are still not issued.

¶ 06 Now education Development Officers are to be removed from schools; Samurdhi officers and police too face issues. Many police officers over 55 are ill from years standing on roads; yet they are transferred far—women police constables from Badulla to Jaffna, etc. These are human issues; institutions cannot function like this. There are many ASPs awaiting proper appointments and litigating. Such service problems must be solved reasonably, not by shouting.

¶ 07 An example: at a postal vote count in Badulla, I had 1,058 postal votes; Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva had 98; but Hon. Samantha Vidyaratna had 2,200—showing how state employees voted. Yet 98 postal votes went to someone who gave 17,000 jobs; still the people rejected him and us. Fine—the public placed trust in this Government. But you cannot now berate and bully public servants; that will not solve problems. Teachers, too, have many issues—solve them constructively.

¶ 08 Previously, when I took funds to build roads, people said they would wait for their own Government to build them—they trusted you that much. Honor that trust with fair solutions, not force.

¶ 09 Thank you.