Hon. Namal Rajapaksa

¶ 01 You are trying to rile up the provinces. But we are not ready for that. You keep saying the traditional, conventional political order is changing. The pickpocket doctrine is that the one who picks the pocket runs and shouts “There’s a thief!” It is sad to say, JVP too follows that pickpocket doctrine. The one who picks the pocket is the one who runs shouting “There’s a thief!” Today you are doing the same. If an investor is to be brought in, how do we protect the existing investor in the country? What measures have you taken to protect the existing investors? Did you listen to them? Did you identify the challenges those factories face? No. What do you say? “Only one factory closed; that’s not a problem; a portion is idling; more will.” Or, “There is no big problem in the apparel factories; we can bring in new ones.” Those are good lines for a party convention. The President spoke about fools at a party convention; it went live on TV; I cannot help that. That is not our issue; that was an internal party discussion.

¶ 02 If we want to lift this economy, lecturing us for hours in Parliament about imports and exports won’t work. We sat on these benches and talked about security. You saw the results. At least now, set aside the grandstanding and listen; listen to the workers. If there is an issue between workers and employers, the Government should mediate to resolve it. The Labour Minister is here; you are familiar with this. But now your role has changed; earlier you were on the other side lighting fires; now you must put them out. If fires start now, scarce reserves will burn. If you let fires burn like before, what will happen? Then the remaining factories will also close. Therefore, as a party and as a government, do not kindle new fires; intervene to put them out. Today, only one factory has closed, Hon. Deputy Speaker. We do not know how many more will close; nor do you. Because they don’t even inform you now. You discount them to that extent. Earlier, when a factory struggled, they would inform BOI, inform the Labour Ministry, and discuss. I do not know whether they informed you this time. We only hear what you say here. But if they did not inform, that means that factory owner does not value the Government, the worker, the Labour Ministry, or the BOI at all. He thought it pointless; paid two months’ salary; closed; and left.

¶ 03 Hon. Deputy Speaker, please give me one more minute. Amending laws is fine. We can discuss and debate them. But remember this: on all these matters, you investigate freely, change public opinion with arguments, and when that opinion is changed, then tomorrow you take someone into custody; next, someone else. You take into custody someone who brought fertilizer; you take Rajapaksas; you take Namal; “Namal is going to prison”—if you say that is fine now, what will happen then, Hon. Deputy Speaker? We will go, obtain bail, and return. We will win our cases in court. We have faith in the judges and the judiciary of this country. We will prevail there. That may give you temporary joy. But—despite interruptions—the time will come to see who the real thieves are and who judges that. Then all will be compelled to face society—not just Parliament—regarding their reputations, about thieves, about what they did and the accusations they made. Finally, I remind you: please answer these questions; listen to the people; listen to the investors. If there is a crisis, intervene. That is my request too, Hon. Deputy Speaker.