The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara

¶ 01 They said, “Three police officers were injured.” When graduates in the Education Service made their demands, the Police assaulted them, but the trade union leader did not speak about that protest. He only spoke about three injured police officers. You have very neatly changed gears and switched sides. What we envisaged to bring this country onto the right path, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has now made a U-turn to the other side. We welcome that. This is what the country needs.

¶ 02 We must attract foreign investment. We ask what the Government’s policy is regarding SriLankan Airlines. At present, it loses billions annually. Funds have been channeled from the Treasury to cover losses of SriLankan Airlines, which exceed the fertilizer subsidy provided to the 6,208 farming families—24 percent of our population—eligible for that assistance. While Rs. 20–30 billion go to the fertilizer subsidy, SriLankan Airlines’ losses exceed Rs. 40 billion. We wish to know the Government’s policy toward loss-making SOEs and what measures are planned. None of this is stated.

¶ 03 I must also speak about the IMF. I remember when the IMF programme was brought, three of your MPs said it would harm the country and the people, and opposed it. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya, as a matter of policy, abstained, with our Leader saying certain amendments were needed. Those in the JVP who opposed the IMF back then now do not utter a word, nor say what changes they seek. Previously, the former Government revealed details of the Staff-Level Agreement. The people want to know its contents. Is it a secret or will it be disclosed? We ask the Hon. President as Minister of Finance, and also the Prime Minister.

¶ 04 The foremost issue of the people today is hunger. You said solutions will be implemented to end hunger. But there is no rice in the market. Rice that was Rs. 190 per kilo is now Rs. 230–240. I recall the President said, “If we cannot agree with the rice mill owners, we will act legally.” Your officials inspected the large stocks in warehouses. In the Policy Statement he said the country needs 2.3 million metric tons of rice per year. In the last Yala and Maha seasons the country produced 4.24 million metric tons of paddy. The Agriculture Minister also said 2.89 million tons of rice were produced. Then there is a surplus. Those stocks are in warehouses. Why are you not acting? If talks fail, by legal means you must have the capacity to bring out the hoarded stocks of rice and paddy.