The Hon. D.V. Chanaka

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I wish the Prime Minister or Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe were here. I asked the PM two simple questions regarding the “space suit/rocket” story: did Government money go into this “Supreme set,” and what benefit accrued to Sri Lanka? The PM answered that not a single rupee was spent by Sri Lanka. Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said the same. But then he claimed the country earned Rs. 3,000 million (Rs. 3 billion) per year, while the PM had said Rs. 8,000 million. Which is it—Rs. 8,000 million or Rs. 300 million? You must clarify. My question was whether State funds were wasted; during Aragalaya times, people alleged hundreds of billions were spent on rockets. Today both say not a rupee was spent.

¶ 02 Previously, PM’s answers were vetted through the PM’s Office, Finance Ministry, and relevant agencies. Here, the PM’s reply came via the Finance Ministry. Who heads Finance? The President. If the PM repeats information from the President’s Ministry, how can Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe publicly attack the PM’s answer as wrong?

¶ 03 Minister Samarasinghe even tabled someone’s qualifications; yet I will not demand to see his. The key point: when investments come, you always cried “lies.” Here, zero State money was spent, and the country earned revenue—clarify the amount between the PM and the Minister.

¶ 04 Minister Sunil Handunnetti spoke as if in 2022 the country was ruined when they took over. But at the time you assumed office, the last quarter growth was 5.3%; reserves were USD 6 billion; agriculture grew 0.98; industry 11.2; interest rates were in single digits; LCs were being opened; fuel imports were 1,062 million units. Since you took over, growth fell from 5.3% to 4.8%—a 0.5 drop in Q1. Agriculture, which was positive 0.9, is now negative -0.78 because of delays in fertilizer and funds.

¶ 05 The President says take allegations to the CID rather than rant here. On the container fraud, complaints are with the CID—yet no inquiry. Those who speak in Parliament or outside are interrogated, but not the State Minister who gave gate instructions or officials involved. During the bond scam, you created diversions; now again with containers, you delay with Presidential Commissions instead of Bribery Commission inquiries. Why is the Bribery DG not empowered? Because if given, the Government will be implicated. This scam exceeds the bond scandal, but you are suppressing it. Thank you.