The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara

¶ 01 Thank you. We too are eager to catch the thieves. The country went bankrupt and people suffered in part due to theft. We will extend all support to apprehend culprits and to bring necessary laws. As Opposition, as SJB, we raise our hands in support. I recall your President spoke of 400 files.

¶ 02 In the Central Bank bond scam, your chief organiser Nalinda Jayatissa is asking Ranil Wickremesinghe to bring back Arjuna Mahendran. Better yet, ask Mahendran himself to return.

¶ 03 Starting from that, I ask: is this how you will catch thieves? You negotiate with countries to bring back underworld figures. Why can’t you negotiate with Singapore to bring back Arjuna Mahendran? That was your main promise. The people are watching. You have set up a special unit. Please inform us of current progress. Both the people and MPs want to know. You keep saying, “We will catch the thieves!” Lasantha Wickrematunge’s murder, Thajudeen’s murder, Prageeth Ekneligoda’s murder, Dharmaratnam Sivaram’s murder, Poddala Jayantha’s leg-breaking and many such cases remain. We hear that an officer who derailed the Thajudeen investigation is now an adviser to the Minister of Public Security. How can we expect justice then?

¶ 04 You also promised swift action on the Easter Sunday attacks. You appointed three committees: the Malalgoda Committee, a Parliamentary Select Committee, and a Presidential Commission of Inquiry. During Good Governance, over 700 suspects were arrested. The father of the main financiers of the Easter attacks was a national list candidate on your list. Only he remains alive; the rest are dead. Catholics lost around 300 lives; Muslims were framed; we lost two elections. The officers who probed those cases now serve under you, some even after retirement. We have no issue with employing them, but we need justice for the people. Why is it so delayed?

¶ 05 Recently, it was said the “mastermind” had died, but he is still at large.