The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I thank all Hon. Members who expressed views. I thank Hon. Nizam Kariapper for seconding and for his contributions.

¶ 02 Hon. Gamini Rathnayake, we bring this to implement, not merely to talk. Let us move together.

¶ 03 Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, thank you for your views. My intention too is to restore the dignity of Members.

¶ 04 Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, we brought similar proposals in previous Parliaments — Hon. Vijitha Herath and I did — though they were not debated. Today we bring it for implementation.

¶ 05 Hon. D. V. Chanaka, a young Member, also contributed. We appreciate the Hon. Prime Minister’s remarks. Beyond Government and Opposition, as the entire Tenth Parliament, let us regain people’s trust and stop them looking at Parliament with contempt. That is why I moved this today. Let us act so that the public trust given to MPs and even to municipal councillors is restored.

¶ 06 I appreciate what you said, Hon. Prime Minister. I guess taking that first step is the step in the right direction. I have extended my support. So, let us walk together and ensure that we achieve it. I do not think it takes generations to get that change made. If you have the commitment, I guess we can get to the Singapore model. When Lee Kuan Yew came to Sri Lanka, he looked at Sri Lanka as a role model, went back and said, “This is what I thought Singapore would be in future”. But, later on he said, “I do not want to take my country through what Sri Lanka has gone through.” So, let us change the model; let Singapore follow us before too long. We extend our support and let us work towards fiscal discipline and, more or less, a proper system. So, instead of blaming the past, let us work together towards the unborn future. Again, I appreciate the support you extended. Let us ensure that we build a new future from this moment itself.

¶ 07 Let us, Opposition and Government together, implement this from now and prove that the Tenth Parliament embarks on a new journey, turning words into action. Thank you.

¶ 08 Question put, and agreed to.