The Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, it is regrettable that the President did not initially agree to attend the War Heroes’ commemoration, resulting in invitations being issued under the leadership of the Deputy Minister instead. Due to social media and public outcry, he then decided to attend. The entire country knows this event was used to gather political advantage in the North—not to honor national reconciliation. Moreover, it was promised during the last presidential and parliamentary elections to build a memorial for Prabhakaran. Our Hon. Archchuna says Minister Chandrasekar clearly promised it publicly. Was that to please the LTTE diaspora or mislead innocent people in the North? It is now evident.

¶ 02 Why hesitate to say “war heroes”? If you can say “Eelam heroes” with pride, why hesitate here? When someone sacrifices life for the country, politics aside, we must accord due honor. In my own family, three lives were lost due to the war. Failing to accord that honor is shameful and regrettable.

¶ 03 On imports and exports: representing Gampaha District, I know “NEXT” apparel in the Katunayake Zone is being closed. Some Ministers may say factories close and open all the time. But this factory employed over 1,000 people, and this could be the beginning. You are used to grandstanding—highlighting issues in Parliament without deep inquiry and then forgetting. Likewise, you claimed you would never import rice; NPP would never do so; you would subdue the rice mafia. Yet the first thing you did was permit rice imports.

¶ 04 Now there is a salt issue too. You also said salt would never need to be imported. In February, Minister Sunil Handunnetti went to a factory and proudly declared Sri Lanka would never again need to import salt; we would be self-sufficient. We were happy. That project was begun by the previous Government; still, if you completed it, fine. But today people lack even salt. People lack even gruel with salt. After two months, you started importing salt. Likewise, you spoke of exporting coconuts; now you plan to import them. You have deceived the people with endless falsehoods.

¶ 05 About 70% of our apparel exports go to the USA. With the situation in the US, tariff changes have taken place. We alerted the Government months ago. You dismissed it with bluster. A delegation went to discuss tariffs in the US—but only a Deputy Minister went; the US was not pleased. The President then claimed there was a very successful discussion and that a joint statement would be issued by both countries. We were happy. But no joint statement emerged; instead, only a Sri Lankan statement appeared a week later saying talks were successful but no final decision yet. How can our apparel sector plan its future without clarity when orders are placed years in advance? Other countries have reached final arrangements with the US; we have not.

¶ 06 Therefore, please intervene seriously. When factories are closing, do not issue false boasts about successful US talks—tell the truth. Regrettably, after 7–8 months in power, the country is stuck and turning back. You have a responsibility to meet the majority’s expectations. Abandon the begging mentality and implement a real plan to move the country forward. Thank you.