The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and the Leader of the House of Parliament

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today we debate the Ministry of Public Security and Defence-related matters—two of the most vital Ministries. No matter the economic strength or other Ministries’ performance, the country’s safety and, in particular, the daily security of the public rest on these two. Simply put, they must ensure people can leave home in the morning and return safely in the evening.

¶ 02 In recent times, especially under the National People’s Power administration, these Ministries have gained recognition. The Sri Lanka Police in particular is functioning with unprecedented transparency in drug eradication and other investigations. There are shortcomings, but compared with where we were, progress is clear.

¶ 03 Minister Ananda Wijepala has decided to recruit new officers. Many improvements are being driven by existing officers as well. Some Members, however, are unable to acknowledge good work: police risking their lives for months to bring down drug networks are mocked. In heroin crackdowns—66,704 raids—1,597 suspects were arrested. One raid can take weeks of intelligence and cross-border effort; this is not pickpocketing. Ice: 75,450 raids; 3,143 kg seized. Cannabis: 65,111 raids; 15,612 kg seized. Hashish: 1,806 raids; 630 kg seized. Cocaine: 104 raids; 33 kg seized.

¶ 04 One MP said cocaine seizures are low because only the wealthy use it. Given the value, even 33 kg is significant. Across the North, East and South, public acceptance of these efforts is evident. Yet Hon. Gajendrakumar says police and the Tri-forces in the North and East are the ones using heroin and cannabis. In truth, the North has long suffered from kasippu and drugs. The President himself has stated some officers within security and judicial sectors are involved; that does not taint the entire forces of the North or anywhere else.

¶ 05 We regret that some politicians thrive on ethnic division. When Southern racism was strong, it masked Northern ethnic chauvinism. Our Government does not practice racism. On the drug issue, can we not unite North and South? The North has been battered by war and by Kerala cannabis and heroin. During the war, fewer narcotics moved by sea; now trawlers bring tonnes. It is also known that some LTTE leaders engaged in drug trafficking to fund operations.

¶ 06 Therefore, let us unite to fight drugs. Yes, some officers may be compromised; the President said so. But it is the poor in the North who suffer most from kasippu and drugs. We have told Minister Wijepala this repeatedly. Corruption among some officers taking bribes from kasippu traders is a legacy culture created over decades by old regimes.

¶ 07 [Expunged on the order of the Chair.]

¶ 08 In 1989 there were private torture chambers. Those who lit fires in 1983 are the political ancestors of some shouting today. The Batalanda Report records that UNP thugs assaulted detainees at police stations like Biyagama/Peliyagoda. Those who took medals from Ranil now decry abuses.

¶ 09 Today, unrelated social incidents are being tied to stoke Sinhala against Muslim and Tamil communities, without any effort to calm flames. The NPP and the people have defeated racism. Even after the recent incident, only a tiny group was inflamed; we appreciate the public’s restraint.

¶ 10 On Easter: those who were President, PM, or party heads then must answer. With intel available, what did they do? After the blasts, they stayed in power for 1.5 years, shuffled investigators like Shani Abeysekara into jail, buried probes, killed or exiled witnesses. We are painstakingly rebuilding cases.

¶ 11 Those who engineered Black July now preach. If 1983 was a reaction to 13 soldiers killed, why was the Jaffna Library burned in 1981? Some should feel ashamed while making racial politics. In the last presidential election, they even formed alliances with Tamil nationalist leaders. We did not.

¶ 12 On depoliticizing police: I table the 19 May 2022 Lankadeepa report, “Out of 184 OICs, 182 were political appointments—IGP informs Secretary.” That was IGP C.D. Wickramaratne. In 2001–2003, under UNP Police Minister John Amaratunga, 3,500 of our people were arrested; Hon. Nimal Siripala complained in Geneva; arrests were made at gunpoint. That is their record.

¶ 13 On Public Security achievements within our first year ending on the 21st: properties of various underworld leaders have been frozen after detailed tracing—98 persons; assets worth Rs. 4.3 billion. This is not just declarations; it is deep asset-mapping. Police salaries rise with public sector increases; do not spread myths.

¶ 14 As Transport Minister, I thank Traffic Police. Together with the IGP, we enabled online payment of traffic fines and aim to roll it out islandwide by 31 December. We will link it via GovPay to a demerit system by mid-next year to discipline drivers. From 1–30 January 2025, Rs. 6.5 billion in fines were collected; the prior year’s first nine months totaled Rs. 3 billion. We do not want to increase fines to raise revenue, but deterrence is necessary.

¶ 15 On national reconciliation: I ask Hon. Adaikkalanathan—since we came to power, how many new army camps were established in Mannar/Vanni? None; some have been removed. From Medawachchiya to Mannar, not a single new camp; existing ones are being relinquished. For example, in Madukale, the Army has asked to hand over areas to the Forest or Wildlife Departments. I do have criticisms of Wildlife for delays in fencing due to lack of funds; this becomes a political issue. Together with Minister Ramalingam Chandraseker, we negotiated to vacate 16 camps; four in Jaffna have already been released and more are being processed. Demanding total removal of all camps in the North is unrealistic unless we say no camps anywhere in Sri Lanka. After Easter, even ITAK leaders said do not remove all camps. Adjustments can be discussed, and we are reducing where appropriate.

¶ 16 I have no time; I have already exceeded my time.