The Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake

¶ 01 Madam Presiding Member, today we are discussing decision-making under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969. When speaking on this, I must say that in the recent past Sri Lanka had a massive problem regarding vehicle imports. For five years, no vehicles were brought into the country. That was the situation. We have changed that and created a new environment in Sri Lanka. We changed the mechanism for importing vehicles and decided to bring in Regulations to ensure fairness in that process.

¶ 02 However, setting that aside, some matters the Opposition brings to this Parliament force us to talk here about the country’s future while they peddle various bills. In the recent period, we took many landmark decisions in Parliament on the country’s future. Instead of discussing those, the Opposition kept talking alongside the “bills” they created.

¶ 03 Today’s bill they have manufactured is “salt”. They started talking about salt. The Opposition is now nourished entirely by “salt talk”. There is something special here: they talk about salt and then leave the Chamber. This is unique. Some talk on certain topics and then no one remains in the House. Once their speeches end, the Opposition Members all walk out.

¶ 04 We took charge of this country seven months ago. What we inherited was a devastated nation. There was immense fear about the country’s future; the youth wanted to leave. There were long queues to obtain passports. But after seven months, Sri Lanka has emerged from those conditions. The economy is now on a strong growth path. The dollar position is stronger; the exchange rate is stable; the stock market is up. We are becoming a rapidly developing economy. When we took decisions on vehicle imports, some Members said not to do it because the dollar reserves would crash. They no longer say that.

¶ 05 Some now tell another story about our economy, citing a factory at Katunayake deciding to leave Sri Lanka. But during their time, around a hundred factories left. They do not talk about that. Many factories slated to be closed during their time were restarted within these seven months: the sugar factory, paper factory, Highland and the Pulmudai mineral sands industry have all been revived. Foreign investors are beginning to come because of the confidence in our country and economy. We are moving forward economically.

¶ 06 Tourists did not come earlier due to fears about our future and internal situation. But today, the war is fully ended; Sri Lanka is a peaceful country. You can travel everywhere, including the North and Nagadeepa. Nearly 900,000 tourists have arrived so far. But they will not talk about that; they wait for the country to fall.

¶ 07 Some speak only about salt. Do not talk only about salt. When we took charge, sugar was Rs. 330 per kilo; now Rs. 220. Wheat flour was Rs. 220; now Rs. 140. Potatoes were Rs. 330; now Rs. 120. Big onions were Rs. 330–340; now Rs. 120. Eggs were Rs. 70 each; now in the twenties. If you want to speak about daily essentials, we can. But while you talk salt, we have engaged substantively to resolve it; soon there will be an answer, and then you will search for another issue. The Opposition’s “big issues” do not matter much to society. The public expects our NPP Government to solve not such petty issues, but national ones.

¶ 08 As a Government, we are on a strong, well-organized forward march that cannot be shaken. We have brought significant change in seven months. I kindly ask the Opposition to reflect on how this Parliament used to be: all manner of corruption was here; drug dealers, cannabis dealers, ethanol racketeers were here; mics were broken; chilli powder was thrown. But today, we run this Parliament with great discipline. Still, there are Opposition Members who insult that discipline, creating morning theatrics and then leaving. We ask the Opposition to behave with discipline. Learn to do so; then this will be a beautiful Parliament.

¶ 09 After the Budget Debate ended, our President Anura Kumara Dissanayake clearly asked whether there were any allegations against our 159 MPs. The Opposition had none. Seven months in, we continue as a clean Parliament. When some call our Ministers “thieves” without basis, we say: do not do that. An Opposition Member even said Minister Chandrasekar is preparing a statue of Prabhakaran. We kindly ask: if you cannot prove it, stop spreading slander in this House. If you lack topics, have a separate discussion elsewhere. Do not use the early minutes of proceedings to sling mud. That is wrong.

¶ 10 We have had the country only seven months. We are moving it forward in order. To anyone doubtful, please wait a little. You gave us a devastated country just seven months ago. We are developing it rapidly, moving ahead. We began with our own President, then within two months brought together 159 MPs. Then we had 100 local authorities; now 4,160. We have created 4,000 grassroots leaders. Some feared local authorities; Opposition leaders came to our villages seeking votes to seize power. But the people rejected that, as reflected in election results. The intelligent public decided seven months ago to end and change the cursed practices carried out over 76 years. That change remains firm.

¶ 11 You keep making your predictions: that the Government ends in August; then December. Wait and see. By December, we will have a Government you cannot shake. We took over not for nothing. We took power to make sacrifices. Some say we have big internal clashes. We have none. With love for the country and without division between JVP and NPP, we are all united and committed to build this nation. With that pledge, I conclude. Thank you.