The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake

¶ 01 Today there are attempts to paint us with false labels, stirring up nationalism, claiming we used the PTA. No. We have tools far beyond the PTA, but that is not our aim. Mr. Speaker, therefore, attempts to build a narrative that we are going to use the PTA are wrong. In a very short time, we will amend that law. Until then, we must run the Sri Lankan state carefully, using only the necessary laws with great prudence.

¶ 02 Finally, let me say what we intend to do. Many ministers spoke about policy. I do not need to repeat it. I will speak for two minutes on the three main tasks we seek to do.

¶ 03 First, to safeguard democracy. For that, we will uphold a good election culture, conduct elections, and ensure the police, state institutions and state media function properly and fairly. Accordingly, we will protect human rights, create a good political culture, minimize waste, and reduce unnecessary ceremonies. The Secretary-General of Parliament can attest to how we organized the ceremony for the President’s Throne Speech. We too could have brought in horses—or even elephants. We have better organizational capacity than all that. We have seen how Parliament was once opened with horses, and how hundreds of lakhs were wasted on grand ceremonies. Do we not know how to do such things? We have excellent artists. Some think we do not understand. No, we know; we deliberately do not do it. Do not use our restraint as a weakness. There is no “Ah, that’s how those folks are.” Baseless allegations have been made about MPs’ housing. Therefore, let me be clear: our spirit of sacrifice, our respect for policy, is something we owe to the people. We will not deploy exemplary punitive campaigns against those who violate it to attack us. The people can use those against us; we will sacrifice for the people.

¶ 04 We also have details on how the bungalows of the Ministry of Public Administration have been used. Former Presidents have four or five residences; even the spouses of former Presidents have been given many state houses. Do we not know this? Could we not stay there? Are we incapable? I am saying we have no such issues. If we had stayed there, we too could have remained. We have no complexes or shortcomings for not staying in such places.

¶ 05 Mr. Speaker, we also know some ministers once had three backups; even during the war, when walking to Mullaitivu, the LTTE did nothing—because I did not kill the LTTE in the way some claim. I am not saying the LTTE’s actions were good. Even 15 years after the war, we saw what kind of contest there was—asking “Give me the STF.” The STF was then taken not to Mullaitivu, but to Kalutara. Can our Hon. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa not take the STF now? There is no such lack. We have nothing to show off with S11. We do not lack the nerve.

¶ 06 I say this because there is a group trying to exploit our modesty against us—especially some frontbenchers here who act as if they are masters. No, we do not treat this as personal. We represent the people’s power. We believe the Hon. Members of the Opposition respect that people’s power. Whether you respect us personally or not is secondary; respect the people’s power. That is our request of you, and we accord you that respect as well. We respect every single Member.

¶ 07 In conclusion: we will establish and strengthen democratic governance, build social justice, and modernize the country. In right‑wing politics, one face is “modernize the country,” while the other devastates society—you did neither. You destroyed society and did not modernize the country. Therefore, we will do three things: first, establish good democratic governance; second, ensure social justice; third, modernize the country in every dimension. That is why we are proceeding, and why the President’s Policy Statement is helpful to us. We look forward to implementing the first plan through the Budget as well. With that, I conclude. Thank you very much.

¶ 08 Now, as time is over, let me inform you. The Opposition requested a long adjournment debate. I think about 15 minutes remain. We promised to cancel the lunch recess and continue today’s business, but due to a communications issue, the lunch recess was not canceled. Therefore, about 30 minutes of debate time was lost. Though you do not have that 30 minutes, we thought to give at least 15 minutes. If we take a division, a further 20 minutes would be lost. Therefore, without a division, we hope to proceed straight to the adjournment debate. Thank you all.