The Hon. D. V. Chanaka

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, we agree with the Motion brought by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake. People voted for the Alliance to remove privileges. But even now, 159 Members of the Alliance are not working voluntarily for the State; they still receive fuel allowances — 400-500 litres for MPs; 1,400 litres for Ministers. If working voluntarily for the country, say no to salaries and fuel paid from taxpayers’ money. People gave a mandate to reduce and abolish perks; fulfill those pledges.

¶ 02 Hon. Prime Minister and Hon. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, for the sixth time I raise this: there is a serious issue regarding drinking water. Three months ago, I warned about imported hydrated lime. The permissible chromium content is 10 mg/kg; the imported lot showed 14 mg/kg. Initial tests showed 148 mg/kg; then 13, then 12, then 11. Had I not raised this, by Saturday’s test it would show 10. This contains carcinogens and risks to kidneys; pregnant mothers and fetuses are at risk. For three months, it has not been re-exported. Though told it was not used, calls from Water Board staff say the consignments are stacked alongside good stock in the same buildings at Galle and Ambatale. Anyone can pick either. If chromium is 14 mg/kg, why are these outside containers? Why four tests? The Board even requested raising the spec to 12 mg/kg to permit use. Hydrated lime is added at the final stage of purification; adding chromium endangers lives. Immediate action is needed to segregate and re-export contaminated stock, urgently procure compliant lime, or source local supplies with lot-wise testing. Please intervene swiftly.

¶ 03 On compensating houses damaged during the Aragalaya, also present the list of perpetrators. Public and state vehicles were set on fire — perhaps close to Rs. 1,000 million worth of state property. Compensation should be recovered from those who caused the damage, even from party funds if necessary, not from taxpayers. Otherwise the guilty become those who receive compensation, not those who committed arson.