The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara

¶ 01 You said you do not need MSD. About 2,000 are in MSD; about 1,500 in 11/1 or 1/1 (VIP protection). All have been sent back to Police. I do not know what duties they are assigned to now. When we travel, they stop vehicles at every junction. Stopping to prevent accidents is fine; but frequent barricades are a nuisance. Better to deploy them against the underworld. The Police say crime increased in 2023, 2024, 2025; the Minister says it has not. Whom should we believe? Recently, two small children were killed due to underworld activity—the first time in our history. Eighteen people have been killed in two months. Instead of acting, you cut Police allowances. We urge establishing a special court to deal with this. The IGP says there are 58 underworld gangs with 1,400 members. Implement a plan to crush them. The President said he will crush it; he also threatened to crush rice mill owners, yet rice went up by Rs. 10 per kilo. We doubt the effectiveness of such threats.

¶ 02 Further, look at the issues Police face: at Isurupaya protest, three Police officers were slashed. Thalangama Police told Court that an Army intelligence officer did it. What is this for national security? Police say an Army intelligence person slashed them. What joint measures are there to ensure the Army and Police act together? To ensure law and order, please act.

¶ 03 After passing the Prevention of Terrorism (Amendment) in 1979 (No. 48), nothing has been done. In villages, drug use is on the rise. About 90 percent of drugs come by sea, 10 percent by air. What special steps are there? Recently, 323 containers were released without inspection; people suspect drugs exited that way. Is this how a Government functions? Drug prevalence is rising; please curb this.

¶ 04 On the military: no need to bring benches and chairs to give lectures to the Defence Minister about national security. I saw the Deputy Minister saying he would bring a bench and chair and teach; that is not what should be done. Ensure national security instead. Many in the Army, Navy and Air Force are leaving service. What is the Government’s policy? Is it to ban passports? No. In a post-war period, rehabilitate and reintegrate them positively. Otherwise, with crores and billions in the underworld, they will be used. Many murders involved such trained personnel.

¶ 05 Why are many leaving? Earlier they could live on Rs. 50,000–60,000; now they cannot. Even the morning milk cup is no more; now a yellowish drink. Food quality is poor; substitutes for chicken and beef are used. War heroes need morale. Our war heroes never deserted during war; now they leave. Pay, pensions, disability payments must be ensured even after retirement for disabled war heroes. Many already receive; extend to the rest.

¶ 06 The Health Minister says medicines are plentiful, but disabled veterans say the Military Hospital lacks medicines; those from Monaragala, Anuradhapura, Ampara must visit multiple times. Please ensure required facilities for these heroes.

¶ 07 Before 1988–89, no MP or Minister had security.