The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, I could hardly bear that speech. Since the 1981 Education White Paper, those who took to the streets against every change now claim the Opposition opposes this. We do not. We gave cooperation and continue to do so. But the 2020–2024 reform proposals were not signed by PM Harini. If you can, show us a signature. There is none. Without even signing those, you now bring 2024–2025 policies.

¶ 02 Next, the audit at the National Institute of Education: I now state that Rs. 483 million have been wasted by those who crafted your party’s policies; among them is Mr. Darshana, now on no-pay leave. Please examine that.

¶ 03 I also wish to refer to the President’s statement in Jaffna: that people bypass Anuradhapura to come north to worship, to cleanse hatred. If Prabhakaran had said that, we would have thought twice. But this is our President, who swore upon the Constitution that obligates protecting Buddhism. If he had instead promised to rebuild two demolished kovils as Hon. Sritharan asked, we would support it fully; similarly, he could have addressed bottom trawling. But he did not. I ask: what wrong have the Sinhala Buddhists done to this Government?

¶ 04 Regarding Hon. Sritharan: he serves on the Constitutional Council as a representative of small Opposition parties. There, he raises his hand in favour of all Government proposals—eight times—rubber-stamping faulty appointments. He even supported appointing the Director General of CIABOC while Section 20 of the Code of Ethics requires disclosure of conflicts. Now, CIABOC has filed cases alleging Rs. 40 million was credited to his account for allocating 1,200 acres of Punakari tank for a solar project, and another Rs. 30 million to one Mr. Sarangan. His party, ITAK, has asked him to resign from the Constitutional Council. He should resign, because he was appointed to represent the Opposition’s smaller parties, not to vote with the Government. There are other allegations too. He has violated the rights of Opposition parties.

¶ 05 Please, conclude.

¶ 06 He raises hands for numerous military appointments, a matter hotly debated among northern parties. He has no right to continue on the Constitutional Council. He should step down. I conclude.

¶ 07 Thank you.