The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, many from both sides spoke about people’s issues. What we expect from the Government is how it will implement the election promises. You yourselves admit there are rice, salt, and coconut issues. During the campaign you claimed problems could be solved with one stroke of a pen; now deliver.

¶ 02 There is even confusion about the “100 days”: some say 48, others 50, 110, 120; the President says 100. If you cannot even settle when you assumed responsibility, do not attack the Opposition for questioning.

¶ 03 In the first 100 days, you attacked the media and social media that helped bring you to power. If you face defamation, enforce the law—but do not retaliate against outlets for highlighting problems. Recently, youths commenting on a terrorism commemoration were remanded; the Minister said there were ten such reports—what action has been taken? Yet, the person reporting is remanded.

¶ 04 Do not try to cover incapacity by repression. Many today attacked TV channels. You once treated media as deities when in Opposition; do not now drag all media into disputes with a few media owners. Previously, politicians’ failings were projected onto all 225 MPs; now you are doing the same to the media.

¶ 05 On the public service, politicization is wrong. People voted for you expecting a change. But you have also given posts to your platform figures. Worse, some officials who misled you earlier now sit with promotions and mislead you still; acting on their advice is backfiring. Do not berate the whole public service for the faults of a few. One of the President’s advisors reportedly suggested cutting the public service by 750,000 while you speak of pay and allowances. Your union leaders seek promotions via board papers. Be consistent.

¶ 06 Your campaign promises are now hard to implement; that is not the media’s fault, nor the Opposition’s. We have given you space—100 days—to deliver on tax and other reliefs; some minor changes have come, but not what was promised. You cite the IMF; yet you said you would talk to the IMF and change what President Ranil agreed—unmet so far.

¶ 07 You invite investors. What is the policy environment and plan for them? Transformation takes time, but where is the roadmap?

¶ 08 On Clean Sri Lanka, even your own MPs learned the objectives only yesterday. Such matters should be briefed in caucus, not via ad hoc enforcement. Enforce traffic laws—by all means—but do not conflate vehicle modifications with crime; regulate under the Motor Traffic Act: bar non-compliant vehicles from expressways, enforce road rules, but do not crush an industry that supports many livelihoods.

¶ 09 Advance a coherent economic programme. And remember: do not govern under the notion that “there is no alternative.”