The Hon. Imran Maharoof

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, I am pleased to take part in today’s Adjournment Motion brought by Hon. Amila Prasada. The Government formed with great expectations of the people is now dashing those expectations. This Adjournment Motion relates to what people are talking about and expecting today.

¶ 02 During this debate, various views were expressed by Government Members. Listening to them, we wonder whether they speak forgetting that they are on the Government side. They speak as if to say: “We are the Government; we have 159 Members in Parliament; the President is from our party.” If the Government was formed to bring change, we must ask: has any such change been achieved in this Parliament?

¶ 03 Whether Ministers or Government MPs who spoke here, they mostly criticize the Government itself, saying past actions were wrong and past politicians were wrong. But they have not presented a roadmap to bring change. No such approach is visible. Those who criticize past Governments and politicians seem to forget history. When Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga became President, some of those now here as Ministers and MPs were then with that Government, holding ministerial office. Having been part of those administrations, how can they now say that past Governments and politicians alone caused today’s crisis?

¶ 04 Today Ministers and Government MPs point fingers at Opposition MPs, calling them corrupt, alleging bribery and crimes. If so, why cannot action be taken against them? You must reflect on who holds power today. Your party has 159 MPs. Do you still need the powers of local authorities through the upcoming local elections? And do you also need the powers of Provincial Councils through Provincial Council elections? Your party holds the Presidency and the Premiership, and there is a Cabinet and a Government. In such a situation, how can you keep pointing fingers at the Opposition saying they have stolen and are corrupt, instead of governing?

¶ 05 People want change. That is why they gave you this unprecedented majority of 159 Members. If this record majority also fails, you must consider what the political journey of this country will be. You came to power on the slogan of system change. Such change must begin from Parliament. Instead of blaming past Governments and politicians, clarify what new measures you will implement and what change you will bring. Your party has educated Members, youth, newcomers, and talented people. How will you use them? What changes will you bring to political culture? People are watching.

¶ 06 Many senior politicians on our side failed to get elected because of you and the public’s expectations. Our expectation is that you fulfill people’s expectations properly. We did not ask you to do it in 24, 50, or 100 days. But you and your President promised to do certain things even within 24 hours—who said essential commodity prices would be reduced? Who said fuel prices would be reduced? Who said public servants’ salaries would be increased? Who said you would set the country on the right path through change? Yet you still keep criticizing the Opposition. Please stop the old political habit of blaming those in Opposition. People expect honest, clean, just politics and that we all move along the right path. Thank you for the time.