The Hon. Dilith Jayaweera

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today should have been an important debate at Committee Stage on national security.

¶ 02 Though I came to active politics recently, many on the Government side know I have a long political history and have worked closely with many now in Government; we have stood together at elections, believing we must rebuild this country amidst a political culture increasingly abused, reviewing our decisions and entering politics to place the country on the right path.

¶ 03 I come from an ordinary family: my mother a teacher; my father a state employee, a July strikers’ activist. We are four siblings; all four entered university through free education. I became an entrepreneur and earned wealth here. My heart told me it was time to give back to our motherland. Otherwise, I could have lived in comfort. I entered politics with that pure purpose.

¶ 04 I must record what happened today at Seethawaka Municipal Council—the petty act by the Government. Our member, Chandana Mudunkotuwa, a humble, poor man, built that Council with his own means. Yet you overturned it with petty politics. Our councillor was even taken in the Chairman’s vehicle and given police protection. Is this the change you promised for democracy and pure politics? People are pleading for their mothers and fathers—how can this be right?

¶ 05 I say again: you know me well. No matter the pressure, we will redouble our resolve and at the first opportunity send this “Malimaa” Government home. Record that somewhere. Do not come back later and speak of doing “petty” things—at least keep quiet and listen when we speak. You are doing two-faced politics.

¶ 06 Today we are faced with a weak lot. As their leader himself said, those who came to do “odd jobs” have become bosses; “these are scoundrels,” to quote him. The people are discerning; they will respond, but not like you imagine.

¶ 07 On national security: it has deteriorated on all fronts, as I said in my maiden speech a year ago. It is clear you deliberately weaken national security to empower external forces that pressure us through a puppet show. Our greatest national asset is not guns, jets or ships, but the people in uniform. You have demoralized them, stripped their national pride, love and trust in the country. Every time national security is weakened, the country collapses.

¶ 08 The Easter Sunday attacks occurred because intelligence collection was weakened. We have yet to recover. The economy and many sectors cannot rise. You are again dragging the country toward ruin by weakening security. I speak with responsibility; though I have parliamentary privilege, I will not reveal sensitive details publicly. I am informed, I have engaged with them. From senior to junior ranks, I know their views: you have undermined and broken their trust. Without that trust, we cannot expect real security.

¶ 09 If you love this country and your mother who nursed you, stop and think. Secret deals have opened the country dangerously, making it a stage for anyone to perform. Consider the imminent threats and take action. Our Minister was a war hero, now a politician—there are many such here. They had discipline and resolve; now the pride and courage of our war heroes—who built “We for Us”—have been shattered. If anyone here loves this land, think again. You are reducing the strength of our forces; recruitment is down. I challenge you—call for enlistment and see whether people come. They will not—because trust is broken. Foreign forces, who want to drag our war heroes to The Hague, are being aided. In Geneva, you have done something we never did—betrayed the country. Will our heroes step forward then? Will they pick up their weapons? Or will they lay them down and step aside? They have no trust that this Government will protect them.

¶ 10 Intelligence officers are idle now. We know how much they sacrificed to gather intelligence. Is it the same today? The Government thinks it is Christmas because different countries’ Santas have given them toys. While they play, a great conspiracy will soon befall our motherland, taking us to a dead end. That is why Hansard must record what I say on national security—so that one day I can say I did my duty by the people who sent me here. Those war heroes who supported you then are now coming to us; their welfare has been cut, widows’ benefits removed, due increments denied. This “Malimaa” Government acts entirely against our motherland.

¶ 11 Thank you.