The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Do I have three minutes?

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, within the short time, I speak in support of this Motion. Even Hon. Gamini Rathnayake draws a pension. Justice Chitrasiri’s Report proposes ten years’ qualifying period; it does not affect history, nor this Motion. Hon. Member, you will receive a pension; all 39 of you will. So raising both hands — or even legs — is of no use.

¶ 03 I must call out hypocrisy. Members claim to work selflessly. Yet salaries are paid. The first month’s salary was routed to a public bank, then to party accounts; then Members draw about Rs. 88,000 via cheques to private accounts. So stop this false claim of selfless service. According to the Code of Conduct, this arrangement may amount to an inducement; do not do it. Either abolish pensions or stop routing salaries to party accounts.

¶ 04 There are doctors here who earned Rs. 300,000-400,000; now they lack proper facilities. MPs have been vilified. The Speaker cannot reside in the official house; it has been closed. He is the third citizen. The President and Prime Minister use vehicles; we say, use what is necessary, not excessive. A reasonable level of facilities for MPs is needed; I stand by that.

¶ 05 We sacrificed professions to be here; I left legal practice of 16 years. We do not need firearms; if some want, let them take. You said you would not take; now you are taking. You say you deduct Rs. 1,200 from your salary — but parties repay from party funds, while we pay personally. Do not reduce the dignity of Parliament by petty claims of Rs. 1,200 meal bills. Maintain dignity.

¶ 06 Why is Hon. Gamini Rathnayake not a Minister today? Because he crossed the party. He is senior and deserves it. I have more to say, including on Lasantha Wickrematunge. Give me one more minute, Hon. Presiding Member.

¶ 07 Hon. Nizam Kariapper is correct. Ravi Seneviratne and Shani Abeysekara used to speak on these stages. Today one is a Ministry Secretary, another the Director CID. They can proceed with investigations without blaming the AG. We were there when Lasantha was at Kalubowila Hospital and carried his body. Across many governments, we have raised this murder. Do not threaten the AG; complete investigations and file cases. Do not publish lists to distract when questions arise: first, beneficiaries of the President’s Fund; then another list; now bar permit holders. Do what is right.