The Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi

¶ 01 Reverend..., that monk and the teacher were known together. Some say he was killed by a VP unit of the DOD. Others say he was a robber. They say he took a T-56 firearm, wore camo kits and, taking police handcuffs from somewhere, raided gambling dens.

¶ 02 Yes, “Kajja.” Likewise, recently in Ratnapura a gemstone traders’ gambling game was robbed. So we do not know whether that murder stemmed from that. We also do not know whether it happened because information about the Rajapaksas was going to be exposed, or because a JVP teacher was killed. That is what I want to know, Hon. Minister: from where did this originate?

¶ 03 Hon. Minister, now suspects have been arrested, yes. But they are still suspects. The shooter has not been caught yet; the masterminds have not been caught. I am saying, arrest the masterminds. I am speaking about what is happening in my district. We are not people who engage in cowardly acts. If we hit, we hit openly; we do not attack from hiding. Listen carefully.

¶ 04 Hon. Minister, what I want is to learn where this originated. That is what people expect from us. Previously, the police would find a scapegoat and present someone. Now that does not happen. I am asking that you properly reveal to us and to the people from where this incident arose. Suspicion points in several directions. But we must find out exactly from which side it came. I request that you find this out.

¶ 05 Hon. Deputy Speaker, the other day two T-56s were seized. Since 2000, Hambantota District had political underworld leaders: there was a provincial councillor called “Chandi Malli”; there was “Aami Jine”; “Wachambotta”; “Julampitiye Amare”; “Chandra Pushpa”; “Passara Gunaya”; “Kumaraya” and others. For 20 years, underworld leaders aligned to politicians operated in this district. We are not the kind of people who do those things; be quiet and listen. Those underworld leaders are dead or have been killed. Two are in prison now: Julampitiye Amare is in prison; Chandra Pushpa is in prison. Some are dead; some have been killed. Their weapons remain in Hambantota District and have not been taken into custody to this day. The President said all weapons in the hands of people would be seized. That is not happening. There are no investigations; they are not being found.

¶ 06 During the Aragalaya period our MP was murdered. President Ranil Wickremesinghe then told all MPs and businessmen to obtain two repeater guns each at their own expense for protection and granted licences. We obtained licensed pistols for our personal safety and property. Now our protection has been removed. Hon. Deputy Speaker, our security has been withdrawn, while the weapons in the hands of village underworld figures have still not been seized. We were told to hand over the two firearms given for our protection, without renewing licences, to the Secretary of Defence. Only the MPs had to do that. We handed them over. I request the Hon. Speaker that while we are not afraid for our safety, we spent Rs. 700,000 of our own money to obtain those two firearms for our lives and property. Please return the two firearms provided to MPs for their protection.

¶ 07 Also, I submitted a letter dated 2025.01.07 to the Hon. Speaker stating my protection was withdrawn, that there are such underworld killers in Hambantota District, and asking for protection. Based on that, the Hon. Speaker had instructed the IGP to provide security. To this day, no security has been given. Therefore, if anything happens to my life, the Speaker, the Secretary of Defence, and this Government must take responsibility. If MPs’ security is withdrawn and any harm befalls them, responsibility must be taken. I place that on record.

¶ 08 Further, Hon. Deputy Speaker, today when this Government’s ceremonial Budget is presented, MPs of the JVP say for 77 years this country has been cursed and destroyed, and that now they have come to rebuild it. If you speak like that, then regarding what your party leaders did—

¶ 09 Hon. Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, you have two more minutes.

¶ 10 Hon. Deputy Speaker, please grant me two new minutes.

¶ 11 Across every government, there were services rendered by our party leaders. In 1948, D.S. Senanayake won Independence; he created Senanayake Samudra, the Gal Oya scheme, and farmer settlements. Then Udawalawe, Polgolla, Victoria, Maduru Oya, Kotmale, Randenigala, Ulhitiya, Rantembe reservoirs were built, generating electricity and establishing industries. In 1977, J.R. Jayewardene introduced the open economy and brought in foreign investment. Lalith Athulathmudali started Mahapola scholarships. Gamini Dissanayake began Lunugamvehera and Mahaweli. President R. Premadasa gave uniforms, mid-day meals, started Gam Udawa, provided shelter, and set up 200 garment factories. Back then you said our women were sewing underwear for foreigners; today the country runs on that foreign exchange thanks to the garment industry. The R. Premadasa Stadium was built. Such large development was done. You know who really destroyed the country in 1988–89. Do not just blame. You now have formed a government and hold power. We are willing to help rebuild. We ask you to work; we will assist.

¶ 12 Hon. Deputy Speaker, Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake made many promises on the presidential stage: Rs. 154 per kilo for paddy; Rs. 150 diesel subsidy for fishermen; 3,500 jobs for graduates; six-month employment; to develop domestic production. For fertilizer, Rs. 35,000 million was set aside, but farmers did not ask for that money; they asked for quality fertilizer. There is no fertilizer; no aid; no funds received. Earlier, politicians started giving fertilizer at Rs. 3,350, but farmers just want a quality measure of fertilizer.

¶ 13 Other assistance has been provided—for kidney patients, for elders’ allowances, preschool children, preschool teachers, and pregnant mothers. That is good.

¶ 14 Regarding the human-elephant conflict, funds have been allocated for losses to life and property; Rs. 5,611 km of electric fences to be built, and 1,456 km to be repaired, with only Rs. 300 million provided. How can you do this with Rs. 300 million? People are dying; elephants are dying; fields and property are being destroyed. Rs. 5,000 million has been allocated for Clean Sri Lanka. Please allocate Rs. 2,500 million of that to mitigate the elephant threat and save farmers’ lives.

¶ 15 Hon. Deputy Speaker, to build a production economy, Rs. 10 million each is to be given to MPs as decentralized funds, drawing from the Rs. 11,250 million allocated to reduce regional disparities. That means Rs. 11,250 million per district, alongside our Rs. 10 million. Under Rajapaksas those went to district committees; MPs did not get the money. You too then fought with us to obtain it. Are you doing the same now? Is this the system change? You promised system change. Please provide the funds and allow us to present our proposals.

¶ 16 You increased salaries for public servants who gave you power. Our economist Hon. Harsha de Silva explained this to the public. But nothing has been set aside for the poor. They cannot survive; they cannot afford food. Rice that was Rs. 190 per kilo is now Rs. 280; a coconut that was Rs. 80 is now Rs. 240; a packet of salt that was Rs. 80 is now Rs. 220. In salt-producing Hambantota, we buy salt at Rs. 220. In three months, this is the change. The innocent poor worker cannot live; there is no income. You came saying you would work for these people—how do they live and eat? Provide them relief. From 2019–2023, Samurdhi was given on politicians’ wish lists; it still is. The poor do not receive it. Give it fairly. I tell the poor: until they rebuild the country, we will manage on porridge, rice, salt, and coconuts and support you. Wishing you victory, I conclude.