The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, first, this morning the Minister in charge of Police, Hon. Ananda Wijepala, spoke about the removal of a Buddha statue in Trincomalee. A false story was spread claiming the statue was taken away. This has escalated tensions in Trincomalee. As Buddhists, we have concerns. The issue is not yet resolved despite the Minister’s remarks.

¶ 02 The Minister of Public Administration — effectively the chief Minister — said one thing in the morning and changed it later. You cannot change what is recorded in Hansard. We keep Hansard, and what is said here is recorded.

¶ 03 Next, on Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism: the Minister is back in the Chamber — thank you. There is a delay in sending the large cohort already interviewed for Israel; with the war over, please expedite their deployment.

¶ 04 On the Justice Ministry: this is a crucial ministry. I raise several issues. The Opposition Leader spoke about emergency inquest officers (coroners). Funds are allocated to round up stray dogs, but coroners who investigate deaths get only Rs. 1,000 per case. In Badulla District, from Meegahakiwula to Pitamaruwa it takes three hours each way; coroners must travel long distances for cases like falls or snakebites for just Rs. 1,000, which is inadequate. Please increase it to at least Rs. 3,000. In difficult terrain, bodies must be taken to Badulla General Hospital for post-mortems, taking two days for a coroner.

¶ 05 Public confidence in the judiciary has been eroded. I am not accusing the Minister personally; I trust him. But issues exist. The Wellawaya Magistrate, Mr. Chathuranga, was interdicted for releasing a passport. Many have released passports — Arjuna Mahendran’s passport release allowed him to flee; the relevant official is now a DG. One law for him and another for Wellawaya? Such disparities break public trust.

¶ 06 On Thilina Gamage: he was acquitted in the baby elephant case but is now interdicted again without a current case. On the Minuwangoda Magistrate, Ms. Thenabadu: it is reported her resignation letter was coerced. Now it is not the public who fear courts but even judicial officers. How many magistrates have been interdicted?

¶ 07 Regarding 18 recent Supreme Court appointments: I was remanded for 28 days by Colombo Chief Magistrate Court No. 1, Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali. She was 12th in seniority but was transferred from Court No. 1 to a lower court and did not receive promotion. On what basis were the 18 appointments made? Traditionally, seniority governs. If now it is “merit,” then table the marks in Parliament. These appointments appear to have been drawn up by Governors of Sabaragamuwa and North Central, a DG, yourself, and the Presidential Secretariat before sending to the Commission. The public must retain confidence in the judiciary. Today, it is lower than in eras of Presidents J.R. Jayewardene, Ranasinghe Premadasa, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, or Mahinda Rajapaksa.

¶ 08 On prisons: the President said Rs. 2,000 million were allocated this year. There is space for 10,750 prisoners but 37,000 are incarcerated. The CRP (Magazine Prison) is about to burst; inmates sleep sitting, 500 at night in some halls; insufficient toilets. A prisoner recently escaped by leaping off a wall; two jailers were interdicted; the escapee is still at large. Use the Rs. 2,000 million via transparent tenders to quickly build additional accommodation to ease congestion.

¶ 09 Prison officers are controlling 37,000 inmates with staff sized for 10,750; they work 24-hour shifts. Also, the former Commissioner-General Upuldeniya was interdicted over the Anuradhapura incident; resolve his status — either dismiss if guilty or reinstate if not, following due process. The country deals with hardened criminals; this ministry must be above reproach. People trust the Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara; do not break that trust.

¶ 10 I also request that the 20,000 vehicle permits promised for public servants be fully issued. These are university academics, doctors, and many who served through COVID and the economic crisis. If not permits, provide equivalent cash. Many are angry over delays. Likewise, address the anomaly whereby those retiring after 31 December 2024 receive pensions significantly lower than equivalent officers retiring in January 2025; identical posts and service but with Rs. 40,000–70,000 differences. This is unfair and needs correction.

¶ 11 Thank you.