The Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, before addressing today’s Order, I must note: since the end of the decades-long civil war, Sri Lanka’s reconciliation processes have been inadequate—often superficial. Despite promises to address root causes, deliver justice to victims, and promote lasting peace, Truth Commissions, reparations mechanisms, and constitutional reforms have been delayed, diluted, or abandoned. The lack of genuine political will is the primary reason.

¶ 02 Victims, their families, and civil society remain deeply aggrieved. Women suffered disproportionately. In the past week, thousands of mothers in both North and South mourned their missing and dead—religious observances were held in the North; in the South, almsgivings and sermons; names sought on memorials. Their right to remembrance must be respected; their tears know no ethnicity.

¶ 03 Transitional justice—truth, justice, reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence—with a strong focus on economic justice for all communities, must be our immediate goal. Reconciliation is not peripheral; it is central to building a just, democratic, and peaceful society. The National People’s Power (NPP) is committed to a credible, transparent, independent process and to a new social contract rooted in dignity and equal citizenship through constitutional reform. We reject using reconciliation as a mere international image tool; it must be a national priority anchored in equality.

¶ 04 We caution ethno-nationalist and extremist forces attempting to rekindle hatred: Sri Lanka’s future cannot be built on chauvinism or religious fundamentalism. We reaffirm: we will not allow politics that normalize violence or hide behind manufactured patriotism. True patriotism builds a prosperous nation ensuring economic democracy for all, not dominance for a few at others’ expense. We must dismantle discriminatory structures, end impunity for hate crimes, and enforce the law against those spreading extremist ideologies.

¶ 05 Turning to today’s Order under the Excise (Special Provisions) Act and Gazette 2421/42 of 31 January 2025: we propose revising excise duty bands for EVs. On a CIF-percentage comparison, EV rates, even after adjustment, remain below petrol, diesel, and hybrid equivalents. The aims are threefold: (1) increase Government revenue within a fair, balanced framework; (2) ensure those revenues are used transparently for social justice—not stolen; and (3) encourage domestic EV production. Already, vehicles under brands such as Vega EVX, Ideal Moksha, and Elektrateq are being developed locally. We must support further development, reduce forex outflows, and expand future EV uptake for environmental benefits while maintaining revenue.

¶ 06 As stated earlier, we will also strengthen public transport—investing to shift usage from private vehicles to efficient, fair public systems as seen in developed countries. Thank you for the time.