The Hon. Lieutenant Commander (Rtd.) Prageeth Madhuranga

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, thank you for the time to speak in this debate on revising taxes on the import of electric vehicles. Following a speech by a fellow Member who also served in the Navy, I too, having served 21 years in the Navy until the end of the war, speak with humble pride.

¶ 02 Members of the Opposition claimed that during the recent humanitarian operation there was genocide. No war hero—past or present—who shed blood and life to protect our nation’s dignity and territorial integrity, ever engaged in genocide. They bore arms with the singular hope of bringing peace to our country. While serving in the North and East, we saw how much the people—Tamil, Muslim, and Sinhala—suffered due to the war. With utmost professionalism and discipline, personnel of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Civil Security Department, and Police fought to bring peace to Mother Lanka.

¶ 03 A Member said that land in the North and East is being forcibly acquired. Throughout our service—up to our retirement—we ensured that lands taken over during wartime were identified and, after verifying ownership, were gradually returned to rightful owners with deeds or by enabling them to enjoy those lands. As the Hon. Minister said this morning, lands that can be released have been released, with title confirmed. There will not be any re-acquisition by the State.

¶ 04 An Opposition Member repeatedly asked what recognition this Government gives to war heroes. We are living witnesses. With the trust reposed in the National People’s Power, a collective of retired tri-forces personnel named “Adithana” has come together—over 40,000 retired personnel who were in active service—joining with the NPP because we regain our pride through this process. After the war ended, those who spoke loudest gave war heroes no dignity: we saw veterans made to do housework, dog-sitting, cart sand for races, clean drains in Colombo. That period prompted many of us to retire, because our professional dignity could not be protected under those governments.

¶ 05 At the first War Heroes’ commemoration, we were pained because our Field Marshal, who led the war, was in prison—not for any crime, but for political reasons. Yesterday, the President invited former commanders—Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke, General Sarath Fonseka, and Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda—proving that this Government confers the due honour that was denied for years.

¶ 06 Due to the chaos, corruption, waste, and abuse under the old political culture, vehicle imports were halted for five years while the economy collapsed. As we gradually restore the economy, we permitted vehicle imports in 2025 in an orderly manner.

¶ 07 There is a significant domestic industry manufacturing and assembling electric vehicles. We must protect these entrepreneurs, while permitting the import of luxury EVs upon payment of due tax, so that State revenues can fund pro-people programmes. In the last Budget debate, we allocated funds across sectors more broadly than any prior government, precisely because we set proper revenue measures.

¶ 08 Finally, even with increasing taxes on imported EVs, they will not exceed the taxes on fossil-fuel vehicles—petrol/diesel—or even hybrids; EV tax remains comparatively lower. Those able to import at those prices can pay the taxes and thereby contribute to national development. Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.