The Hon. Upul Kithsiri

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, like Hon. Padmasiri Bandara said, the Opposition made salt today’s headline—like a parrot repeating one word. They cherry-pick lines for media to paint a wrong picture of the Government, then claim they are advising us.

¶ 02 We are debating ten approvals under the 1969 Act and Section 8 of the 2023 Disposals Act. On vehicles: after a five-year halt, we are gradually easing import restrictions. The Opposition pretends we promised instant, cheapest vehicles. Listen to our full statements; you’ll see the difference.

¶ 03 Regulations must change with time—sometimes to raise deposits and sometimes to reduce them as conditions improve. That’s what we bring today.

¶ 04 Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka boasted of Mahaweli projects and education reforms, but forgot how much money was wasted then. When rice shortages hit in 2024, there wasn’t even a single grain in a central store—under your Government. The Paddy Marketing Board had only one lorry at end-2024. You had no cold stores for vegetables, and no new buses for depots over a decade.

¶ 05 When we came, after five days you cried “no rice, no coconuts.” It takes months for paddy and coconuts to mature. In this short period we have done much that you refuse to see.

¶ 06 Hon. Namal Rajapaksa spoke on investment with great fervor, forgetting why investors fled during his father’s and uncle’s time—demanding dollar bribes and commissions when allocating land.

¶ 07 Hon. Elayathamby Srinath spoke on lands in the North. Similar issues exist in the South. In Ratnapura, many still lack clear titles. We seek uniform solutions across the country, while reserving necessary lands for future generations and wildlife. Bring issues to us; we will discuss.

¶ 08 Rural roads remain weak; many GN divisions still have 10–15 km of poor access. Drinking water is a major issue. The rural economy is struggling; we must uplift it. Our tourism goal is 3 million arrivals per year, but we need facilities across the island. Under previous regimes, little attention was paid to water, roads, land, rural economy, and tourism infrastructure. We will deliver on our promises. Thank you.