The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, today the President came to Parliament and made a special statement on the country’s economic situation and the Government’s progress. When I look at today’s statement, his Throne Speech after assuming office, and his Budget Speech, there is not much difference among them. At that time too, he made a similar speech and expressed various views about relief to be provided to the people and the promises made then. Nine months later, he has come and repeated the same statements. So we must ask whether those earlier promises were fulfilled and whether the people gained any economic benefit.

¶ 02 We all remember the promises made before the Presidential Election—how the economy would be fixed, how electricity tariffs would be reduced, and what other relief would be given. Regrettably, today the President did not refer to those promises or the relief he said would be provided.

¶ 03 Specifically, we saw a large casino business opened the other day, and the President hurried there as the chief guest to inaugurate it. We remember the criticisms once made in this very House about the casino business. When the Government could not find funds and when other investments were not coming, it was said the President then thought of developing the economy through casinos. The then President and the prime minister of that time were criticized for this. It was said that the Government was aligning with the schemes of village gambling bosses and bookies to build the economy through casinos. The same person who said that has now become the chief guest opening a casino venture. Back then, it was said casinos would destroy morality, encourage vice, and fuel drugs. That is how casinos in this country were criticized.

¶ 04 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, having criticized casinos then, the President today goes as the chief guest to open one. This raises serious questions: What is the investment made in this casino? What percentage of tax has been paid? There is a public debate about on what basis and under what framework this casino operation was granted. We request, formally and transparently, that the President explain the level of investment and the applicable tax rates.

¶ 05 Let me raise one more issue affecting thousands of families in Kegalle District, particularly in the Dehiovita Divisional Secretariat Division. Near Avissawella, there are about 7–8 Grama Niladhari divisions of Dehiovita DS in Kegalle District. Until now, these residents fulfilled all their policing requirements through the Avissawella Headquarters Police. With a recent Government decision, thousands of families in seven GN divisions in Dehiovita DS are now compelled to go to the Dehiovita Police Station instead. This has created severe inconvenience to the people. Therefore, we request your intervention and that of the responsible Ministers to reverse this decision.