The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, it is important to speak on the regulation presented today under the Excise (Special Provisions) Act. As the Hon. State Minister of Finance said, the plan is to levy 30% on a Rs. 5 million vehicle, more—44%—on vehicles around Rs. 8 million, and 134% on vehicles above Rs. 18 million, to increase tax revenue.

¶ 02 However, we have not been told the main reason for this increase. A colleague before me offered a view, which I partly accept. Let me say what I believe is happening. According to the Budget, you expect to raise Rs. 5,042 billion in tax revenue. Vehicle import duties play a special role in that target. But we know several serious issues: after three years without imports, there are many problems with resuming; once vehicles arrive, clearance delays are long; many pay demurrage due to delays. Given these, it is very clear from data now available that you cannot meet the Rs. 5 trillion tax target this year. Therefore, you seem to be seeking to raise additional revenue from vehicle imports by hiking rates up to 134%.

¶ 03 What will this do? Vehicle prices—especially for EVs—will rise sharply. With more EVs, our petrol and diesel use was declining. With these tax hikes, EV imports will drop, fossil-fuel vehicle usage will rise again, and we will spend more on fuel. Generally, we already spend around USD 7 billion on petroleum and related needs; this will ultimately increase.

¶ 04 Thus, you are implementing this process simply to drive up tax revenue because expected collections are falling short. That is the driver—not any other reason.

¶ 05 I wish to raise another matter. The War Heroes’ commemoration was held yesterday. I have here the invitation and the President’s remarks. It is clear from the invitation itself that the President originally was not going to attend; it states the event would be held near the War Heroes’ Monument at the Diyagama Parliament Grounds under the chairmanship of Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) K.P. Aruna Jayasekara. Only after war heroes and many others began speaking did the President attend. [Expunged on the order of the Chair.] I regret the manner in which this occurred. I am not a chauvinist. There was a war in this country, caused by separatism. The Government responded with a military operation—as also happened in 1971, 1988, and 1989. Under your Government too, should such a situation arise, you would necessarily act to suppress it. That is the truth. The President seems to think it is good to commemorate those who invaded other countries elsewhere in the world, but when they attacked us and we repelled them, that is what constitutes heroism. Otherwise, they are not war heroes. Look at the insult to our war heroes—16 years later. Without them, none of us could breathe freely today.

¶ 06 The first thing we should have done in Parliament yesterday is for all Members opposed to separatism to rise and observe a minute of silence for the sacrifice of our war heroes.

¶ 07 Many war heroes lost limbs. Among the fallen are Tamils, Muslims, Burghers, and Malays as well. I have always pleaded—please appoint the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Even the office established for this has now been shut under your Government. Through that Commission, justice must be done for the missing. As the President said yesterday, in the North and in the South, many parents still search for their missing children. Yes—since 1971, 1988, 1989. For those missing who fought alongside you as well, mothers are still crying in temples and churches, lighting lamps to find their children. The only workable solution is to provide them due compensation and closure, and ensure this never recurs.

¶ 08 This commemoration should have been led, as customary, by the Commander of the Armed Forces. It is not an event for a State Minister or a group to conduct. We saw the President paying floral tributes to war dead in Vietnam; he should have come here and stood straight for Sri Lanka’s war heroes and declared what would be done for them. Instead, we saw separate “Great Heroes Day” commemorations—Jaffna’s long-standing “Pongu Tamil,” now even in Wellawatte—leading Tamil brethren to consider those as great heroes, while our national commemoration renders our war heroes as mere soldiers. I regret that. I also saw last night the Foreign Minister saying those others are not war heroes, only soldiers who did nothing—merely stood around. Then what about the NPP’s tri-forces veterans’ collective—are they not war heroes, only “soldiers”? We live in this country because of them. Whatever issues we have, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sarath Fonseka, and our other war heroes and police made enormous sacrifices for the nation. I recall them with honour and affection. Generally, one does not call someone a war hero merely for killing terrorists; that is why they are called soldiers. It is the nature of the undertaking itself.

¶ 09 Another matter: the post of Auditor General has been left unfilled for weeks. In previous governments too this was delayed; we criticized that and did not support it. The Department of the Auditor General has a clear hierarchy. The next in line should be appointed—it does not matter who he is or which party he supports. Yet your Government attempts to nominate a director from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation as Auditor General. This is wrong. Do not repeat these bad precedents; we opposed them before, and you opposed them as well when in Opposition.

¶ 10 Also, about this morning’s events—someone alleged my mic was being turned off and accused me of corruption regarding the President’s Fund. I say: if I am corrupt, prove it. Do not slander without proof. The Secretary General’s Office instructed that the allegation be withdrawn; I thank them. If we have committed theft, arrest us. But do not throw baseless accusations.

¶ 11 Ministers behave like petty bosses here, using words like “servant” in this Chamber—these are unparliamentary.

¶ 12 Let me also raise a critical point: agreements signed with India on April 5 have still not been presented to Parliament—over a month later. Similarly, we are told 77 agreements with China have been signed; none is before Parliament. We, as MPs, must know what these agreements are. “EconomyNext” has published the text of one agreement, including a clause allowing India and Sri Lanka to set up weapons depots in Sri Lanka. Our people will not accept foreign arms depots here. Have you signed such an agreement?

¶ 13 [Presiding Member: Hon. Member, you are given an additional three minutes.]

¶ 14 If you have signed such an agreement, why hasn’t it been presented to Parliament? We protested ACSA; Anura Dissanayake, Vijitha Herath, and Ms. Amarasekara all spoke. We spoke against SOFA. We protested giving oil tanks to India. We have no issue with India; we must deal with India. But we must think carefully: India, Australia, the US, and Japan form the Quad, aimed against China. If we sign security pacts with a country in the Quad, we deepen alignment with Quad against rising China. Where does that leave us—especially amid India–Pakistan tensions? If we are struck in crossfire, who is responsible? Therefore, before signing, inform Parliament.

¶ 15 You accused previous governments of “secret agreements.” Do not do the same. Present these agreements to this House this week. MPs have a right to know. Some clauses reportedly bar recourse to local or foreign courts and require special committees for withdrawal—effectively trapping us. You are ensnaring our country in great danger. We must maintain respectful relations with India, yes—economic engagement, yes—but not hide agreements from Parliament for months, with the Cabinet Spokesman saying “we will tell you after asking India.” What rights does Sri Lanka then have? None—we become someone’s province. At the next Chief Ministers’ Conference, will Anura Dissanayake attend as a Chief Minister? We do not know the present situation. You used such issues to inflame the youth previously. Now, we again request you to table the agreements signed with India and China. Some say seven with India, some say 14—we do not know. Please place them before this House. Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member, for the time.