The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity after that dramatic curtain-raiser.

¶ 02 During today’s debate on the Defence and Public Security Budget Heads, the Opposition made much noise. Who are they? Those who embraced containers then, and today clutch at Buddha statues to cover their fraud and crimes. You cannot wash away opposing the Rs. 200 wage for estate workers. The Media Spokesman—like a dog hit by a stone—challenges us. Those who climbed out of a cesspit now challenge us. The people know the truth.

¶ 03 They now want us to watch “Madras” movies. For 76 years you acted your movie; the people know it. That is why on 21 September last year they defeated both those parties and gave us Malimawa’s victory. Do not lecture us on cinema or drama; we know how to appreciate art, as a political movement.

¶ 04 Who now lectures us on the Police? Namal Rajapaksa, who often speaks and runs away. I recall under IGP C.D. Wickramaratne, 180 out of 182 OIC appointments were made to suit political desires. Is that not so, Hon. Madugoda? Keep quiet—you are innocent. Those who did that now lecture us on appointments.

¶ 05 They also accused us of buying councillors. I checked before speaking. The so-called “loose” Opposition is conspiring across local bodies to defeat budgets, sabotaging development plans that would benefit people. If you oppose, fine—let’s go for elections and see.

¶ 06 They hide behind Buddha statues while I note a welcome news: Tamil leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth has been called to the Sri Lanka squad. Yet they still try to stoke racism and claim national security is threatened. I doubt many in the Opposition have even read the Budget. Defence gets Rs. 407 billion; with Rs. 10.5 billion to Navy and Rs. 16.8 billion to Air Force to strengthen security.

¶ 07 Who lectures us? Those who turned their backs when summoned before the Bribery Commission; those who hid at home when Police came to recover combined vehicles; those who wrote books on the bond scam while having 64 calls with Perpetual Treasuries’ Arjun Aloysius. I will not name him to save the House’s time. Another took a loan from Lankaputra Development Bank and defaulted, now in court at Kuliyapitiya. Such people lecture us on Defence and Public Security.

¶ 08 We need no lectures. We have steered the once-broken Police and the Forces in the right direction and ensured national and public security. Over 85,000 police officers and 6,343 civil staff are being properly led. We are building a professional police service to ensure public peace, fight crime and eradicate drugs.

¶ 09 Those whose fathers stood behind underworld figure Amarakeerthi “Amare” now come to teach us public security. When Nimal Lanza was caught in Negombo with drugs, Mahinda Rajapaksa went by helicopter to bail him out—deny it if you can.

¶ 10 They accuse us on drugs. Some linked to our party were arrested—yes. The Peliyagoda municipal councillor’s husband, a teacher, was arrested and remains inside. No one is above the law; all are under the law. As for Puwakdandawa—your people. You said we freed your containers and fed Pohottuwa MPs from them. What a government that would be!

¶ 11 We are cracking down on narcotics. You always protected traffickers; MPs and Ministers shielded them. Those links are now severed. We guarantee the national operation “The Whole Country Together” will continue until the country is freed from drugs. The Police are acting well because they now have proper leadership. No calls from here to release anyone. Punishment without favour, tons being seized—our next speakers will elaborate.

¶ 12 On corruption control, traffic, environment protection, and disaster management, the Police support has been excellent. On promotions: since 2020, 4,487 pending promotions have been granted—four female DIGs, 32 DIGs, 23 Senior SSPs, two Senior SPs, 140 Chief Inspectors, three female ASPs, nine female CIs, 034 Inspectors, 71 female Inspectors, etc. This year 5,092 recruitments have been made; 5,000 planned next year, including Tamil officers for Tamil-majority areas. Vehicles are being procured, quarters renovated, new housing planned. One police alone cannot probe your crimes, hence structural reforms: strengthening FCID; creating PCID and the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), and equipping them.

¶ 13 On unlawful enrichment: action against 61 public officials and 30 politicians; over Rs. 700 million of illicit assets recovered since 21 September. At FCID, 283 investigations are ongoing. Forty-two files, previously shelved, have been revived, including Gin-Nilwala, Siriliya account, CPC frauds and bonds.

¶ 14 Do not panic. You hurl accusations at our Ministry Secretary, the IGP and others because they enforce the law against crooks, the corrupt and criminals. What else can you do? Previously, the law was bent at will by the likes of Anura Senanayake. Today, senior police and Ministry Secretaries implement the law properly. Investigations previously buried are now proceeding: the Anuradhapura triple murder, abduction of 11 youths, unlawful retention of 20 passports and the release of two suspects, among five cases brought back. Lasantha and Thajudeen cases are progressing. The Ekneligoda case is filed before a Trial-at-Bar; Upali Tennakoon is proceeding; Keith Noyahr is with the AG’s Department. Over 400 police officers face disciplinary action to clean the service.

¶ 15 Our Government, the Public Security and Defence Ministries, are advancing national and public security properly. The “loose” Opposition is panicking because many among them have issues and crimes. Panic as you wish; we will proceed rightly and fulfill the mandate given by the people.

¶ 16 Thank you.