The Hon. Chithral Fernando

¶ 01 Madam Presiding Member, I am honoured to enter this august House representing a Parliament with greater youth participation. Contesting from Puttalam District under the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, I thank the people who placed their trust in me in a most challenging election. I also thank my family, teachers of St. Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa, and the Sri Lanka Law College.

¶ 02 The President is an accomplished public speaker, and his Throne Speech, though delivered with political flair, missed essential attributes of such an address. The Government speakers spoke much of the “76-year curse” and resorted to name-calling, rather than laying out the road ahead.

¶ 03 The President affirmed that under democracy and freedom, no one should be persecuted for their religion, culture, or political beliefs. Yet he seems to forget how he gained this vast mandate—by aggressively generalizing that everyone outside his camp is corrupt or a thief, and painting other parties as dens of corruption. That is political generalization to corner opponents. In that sense, he is not very different from rulers of the past.

¶ 04 On ethnicity and religion: many spoke, including the President, Prime Minister, and the Minister for Justice and National Integration. But why keep invoking nationalism now? The groups that exploited nationalism are already marginalized. What is the purpose of repeatedly reading that script and naming opponents? Regardless, we too say “No to nationalism” and will fully support the Government in defeating ethnic and religious extremism.

¶ 05 Politics is changing; parties and Parliament must change too. The JVP, once a movement that brought severe consequences upon the country through its politics, now holds power. That possibility exists for any party in this land. I remind the Government, which holds immense power, not to become arrogant. Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Whether we have power or not, let us all work together for the betterment of this country.

¶ 06 Thank you.