The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, the Constitution – our supreme law – accords the foremost place to Buddhism, as set out in Chapter II. The State has the duty to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana, while also ensuring due recognition and place for other religions.

¶ 02 The Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Bodhiraja Viharaya in Trincomalee was established in 1951 and registered with the Department of Buddhist Affairs in 2010, with a Deed of Sacred Precincts. The Sangha and Dayaka Sabha have the freedom to conduct religious activities there. That is the law and the policy: foremost place to Buddhism while affording due place to other faiths.

¶ 03 What is happening today? The police have entered this sacred precinct and decided where a Buddha statue should be placed, how Dhamma school buildings should be constructed, and imposed prohibitions. Does this not embolden racist and sectarian forces undermining national unity?

¶ 04 If there is any issue, the authorities should consult the three Nikayas and the Maha Nayake Theras and resolve matters through dialogue, not send police at night into a registered temple with a sacred precinct deed to block development works. Whose orders are these? If the Government ignores Chapters II and III of the Constitution, I table copies of those chapters for the record.

¶ 05 We urge the President to immediately defuse this situation by inviting the Maha Nayake Theras, heeding their guidance, and halting this racist, sectarian conflagration to ensure justice and fairness.

¶ 06 When Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara sought to raise this national issue, preventing him was wrong; I regret that. On such national matters, all MPs should be allowed to draw attention, irrespective of side.

¶ 07 [Expunged on the order of the Chair.]

¶ 08 I also wish to raise current issues. In the Maha season, the Government has failed to disburse fertilizer subsidy funds in areas such as Thalawa, Rajanganaya and the Namal Oya scheme. Much of the subsidy has been paid only after cultivation ends. Is this efficient governance? Please expedite these payments.

¶ 09 On Coroners: there are about 500 Inquirer into Sudden Deaths officers working 24/7/365. Their travel allowance is Rs. 68 per mile, and Rs. 1,000 per inquest, while their cost is about Rs. 1,700. This has not been revised in seven years. A 2019 Cabinet paper approved raising the Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,500 but it was not implemented. They now request Rs. 3,000. They receive no stationery support; paperwork has increased from 5 to 39 pages. Three coroners died during COVID service. Increase their allowance to Rs. 3,000; they cannot engage in other jobs. Also, revise appointment letters to reflect qualifications, and recognize their role in public health reporting and statistics.

¶ 10 With around 80,000 deaths annually, current payments amount to Rs. 80 million; raising to Rs. 3,000 would need about an additional Rs. 160 million. Please consider a Commission on Coronial Services akin to the Salaries Commission.

¶ 11 On education: 16,600 Teacher Development Officers (TDOs) strengthened the sector, especially during COVID. They gathered yesterday near the Presidential Secretariat. Pre-election, promises were made to absorb them into the teaching service and to recognize their service. They request implementation of the court settlement: three years to complete the postgraduate diploma, and absorption as probationary teachers in the interim. Why is this not done? The Prime Minister has said 52,000 appointments can be granted; then resolving the 35,000 graduates’ issue and absorbing 16,600 TDOs should be feasible. Please honour those promises.

¶ 12 Parliament staff render invaluable service; do not vilify officials. Address shortcomings through dialogue, not humiliation.

¶ 13 On teachers, do not make false claims such as giving “two-thirds” of promises; stop misleading the public.

¶ 14 To Hon. Vijitha Herath: please focus fully on foreign employment. Many fake agencies exploit people amid 40–50% poverty. Tighten regulation and weed out fraudulent agencies; ensure legal pathways for foreign work, and curb shortcuts that lead to perilous outcomes.

¶ 15 A further issue: 85,000 retired principals and teachers are aggrieved over non-receipt of relief under the Subodhani Committee recommendations due to ongoing litigation filed on their behalf. While the case is pending, please engage the group representing the 85,000 and arrive at a solution they accept, rather than letting “the case and the cause” be at odds.

¶ 16 On the plantation community, we need no lessons. It was President Ranasinghe Premadasa who granted them citizenship when they were stateless.

¶ 17 Thank you, Hon. Chairman.