The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources

¶ 01 Thank you. Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, I am pleased to join the adjournment debate on the current economic situation. This morning, the Hon. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake clearly set out important points in this House.

¶ 02 Listening to the Opposition after his speech is rather amusing. Beyond their usual accusations, there are no rational, substantive charges. We all know our country was in a severe economic crisis. From that crisis, we have brought the country, in several respects, to a more stable position today. We must compare how the economy was when we took over with where we are now.

¶ 03 This country had officially defaulted on its debt. The state was unable to carry out its functions. Banks were in distress. Financial institutions had become non-functional. LCs could not be opened as usual. There were no dollars for imports. We could not even secure sufficient forex for oil imports. The economy was, in many ways, paralyzed. On the production side and in construction, activities had stalled. The country could not proceed with capital projects through borrowing. International partners refused to operate here, saying the country was bankrupt and could not service debt. That is the country we inherited.

¶ 04 Whatever the Opposition says, when we look at the country today, we see progress in many areas. The main reason for their criticism is that we are holding them to account for the injustices they inflicted over 76 years. The law is now catching up with those who looted the country, institutionalized bribery, corruption, and fraud, and plundered the nation. As the law advances against them, all they can do is speak against us; they have no real program.

¶ 05 As a representative of Jaffna, I must note that the North faces a serious economic challenge, primarily due to the 30-year war. Though 17 years have passed since the end of the war, the Northern Province remains the most poverty-affected region in Sri Lanka. Therefore, there is a need to rebuild the North.

¶ 06 The North was also the region where major protests and struggles arose. Instead of advancing those areas and building confidence among the youth, successive governments unleashed violence against them, culminating in war. Hundreds of thousands lost their lives and livelihoods. Even now, roads remain unreconstructed and development has lagged. In this situation, our Government has decided to advance all necessary activities for the North, and we have laid the groundwork for all such programs.

¶ 07 We must also note the plight of the plantation community—cheated and marginalized for over 200 years. It is our responsibility to rescue them from that injustice. As a first step, we must stabilize this economy, which had become dysfunctional. Our Government has undertaken many actions over the past ten months toward that end. We have firm confidence in this Government. On that basis, we will act to provide subsidies where needed, relief where needed, and improve people’s livelihoods. The National People’s Power Government is implementing this program and visible signs of gradual recovery are emerging. We will deliver what the people—not the Opposition—expect. Thank you.