The Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the time. Adding to the point raised by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, we support presenting these regulations to Parliament as brought by then President Ranil Wickremesinghe; we have no objection to good measures.

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, through this supreme House we bring regulations to establish the rule of law and create the environment for the law to operate. We all know that for transparency in auditing—COPE, COPA and other State institutions—the Auditor General is central. But this Government that came to catch thieves and spoke of a 76-year “curse” has failed to appoint the Auditor General properly. If appointments are made by seniority and qualifications, how is the 42nd Auditor General a person from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation? What of merit and experience? Whether it was Mr. Rajapaksa, Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, or Mr. Maithripala Sirisena before—if they did it, we would still object. If this Government also starts appointments based on kinship and friendships, is that public mandate?

¶ 03 We remember the service of the then Auditor General at COPE and COPA. Why is the Government not appointing a proper head to such an important institution?

¶ 04 When this Government holds power, we now see broad daylight shootings, innocents killed—national security is in peril. They promised justice for Easter Sunday victims, but on April 21 they gave a copy of the Presidential Commission Report to CID with four officers to read 65,000 pages. The President can implement recommendations, but nothing has been done.

¶ 05 Now people face not only a coconut and rice crisis but also a salt crisis. Tomorrow it may be palm oil. The cost of living has increased; electricity bills have been raised.

¶ 06 I saw on “Newswire” that an attorney-at-law was arrested for sexually harassing a Lady Judge. Instead of effective online safety and related laws to protect social media properly, the Government points fingers at opponents. Gun violence is rampant—even near my homes in Narahenpita and Ja-ela there were shootings. Underworld activity is terrifying.

¶ 07 The health sector has collapsed. The Cabinet admits a drug shortage but has no plan. Registration of local pharma manufacturers is being delayed by officials. Locally producible medicines are being imported; this does not happen in India, Japan, or China. The Health Minister said 4,600 health officials have left the country from 2022 to 2025. What has the Government done to retain them? Even vehicle permits can’t be meaningfully used; a lady doctor was subjected to harassment—where is her protection?

¶ 08 The Youth Services Council has rebranded “Youth Clubs.” Good programs should be continued regardless of name changes. Our youth today are different and globally connected; do not make them political serfs.

¶ 09 Thank you.