Hon. Fasmin Sharif

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim. Ramadan Kareem to all our Muslim brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka.

¶ 02 Hon. Deputy Chair, Sri Lanka is viewed as an emerging, key trade hub in South Asia. Since the British era, our economy benefited from tea, coffee, and minor export crops; our name became known internationally. Flowers and vegetables from the hill country also contributed. If we better utilize the climatic and environmental conditions of the central highlands with proper planning, we can significantly boost the economy.

¶ 03 We know Lanka Sathosa was driven into losses by the previous government. For example, three containers sent by “51” have still not been received by Sathosa. In my area, Kamburupitiya/Kambale constituency, there are two Sathosa outlets; one is located on premises belonging to a relative or friend of a former minister, and it runs at a heavy loss. Many Sathosa outlets across the country operate at a loss due to the previous government’s wrong policies and decisions. The present Hon. Minister is working to convert them into profit-making outlets, and our government is striving to uplift Sathosa.

¶ 04 In the central highlands, if we expand production of export items like clove, coffee, and tea, we can increase national income. Take cinnamon: instead of exporting it as raw quills, if we export as cinnamon oil and value-added products, we can earn multiple times the current income.

¶ 05 In the previous government, some ministers, through their relatives, imported areca nuts from Indonesia. The landed cost was around Rs. 180–200; previously sold at Rs. 1,100 per kilo, areca now sells around Rs. 550–600 because they imported container loads, harming local growers. Our government has completely halted such imports and is acting to benefit farmers.

¶ 06 Many in the central highlands can produce numerous value-added products from jackfruit and earn good incomes. With proper government support and encouragement, this can be expanded.

¶ 07 Fruits like durian, guava, and rambutan—loved by locals and tourists—can fruit twice a year. If we allocate more land for these, increase production, and export, we can secure substantial income. Identify suitable government and private lands in the highlands and allocate them to cultivators—this will benefit both the region and the country and aid economic growth.

¶ 08 We should also appoint a Commission and conduct an audit of Sathosa outlets. Many still operate under high-rent premises obtained by the previous government, causing massive losses to the state.

¶ 09 I also respond to recent remarks by Hon. Archuna, who spoke here about Muslim marriages in a way that spread communal and caste prejudice and conveyed falsehoods, harming the Muslim community. In a House of 159 Members, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake—who respects all communities—such statements are unacceptable. I urge that he publicly apologize to the Muslim community and retract his false statement. Owing to lack of time, I request the remainder of my speech be recorded in the Hansard.