The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake

¶ 01 Mr. Chairman, the Defence Ministry and the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs are much discussed these days, and today we debate their Heads.

¶ 02 First, although the President and Ministers keep saying public security is unaffected and clashes are only among underworld members, we cannot accept that. A man was made to kneel and shot dead on the Uswetakeiyawa beach; another was shot in front of a Magistrate in court; two children and their father were killed together. If you say these do not affect public security, it is a joke. Our economy now relies on tourism. In 2022, even the last tourist left; now tourism has revived. Videos of these incidents are circulating worldwide and will deter tourists. Do not take this lightly.

¶ 03 My province’s Deputy Minister earlier said we cannot take these incidents as a joke. Before coming to power, you said you would end the underworld with tuition—bring a desk and chair and you would teach. Now we must go to Ishara Sewwandi to get tuition. It has been ten days; we cannot even find where Ishara Sewwandi is. We do not know her whereabouts. So we must get tuition from her—that is the truth.

¶ 04 Hon. Minister of Public Security, you said about Police salaries. I have heard you served in Police, though I do not know details. The Arduous Duty Allowance existed earlier. In 2015, the 40 percent allowance was given so Police ranks could be aligned with Army equivalents; IGP N.K. Ilangakoon introduced it so Police ranks like CI, SI, ASP, SP equated better with Army Captain, Major, etc. Accept that. Those allowances existed.

¶ 05 Now, salaries have not increased as claimed. If they have, good. But the 40 percent is not fully added; only 22 percent. That helps with pension later, but officers need to live now, not after retirement. If 22 percent is added to the basic, the remaining 18 percent is not, Hon. Minister. Please check. You are effectively the number two after the President, as you are sent everywhere and posts given to you. Do not reply now; answer later. If you give these allowances, I am happy; because it is the CID, STF and Police who will do the hard work for you.

¶ 06 So keep the Police motivated; give allowances. You will need them ahead. If you give well, they will work happily; if you give less, they will grumble—mind that.

¶ 07 Next, our Hon. President presented the 2025 Budget. He started from the 2022 crisis, then from 21 September 2024. According to this, for two years no one governed the country; the Budget book omits those two years. In reality, Ranil Wickremesinghe took over in 2022 and until the night of 21 September 2024. At midnight on the 21st he was defeated; at that time the dollar was Rs. 305. Today, after Anura Kumara Dissanayake took office, the dollar is Rs. 300—Rs. 5 less; good. But what is the state of foreign reserves? On 21st, reserves were USD 6 billion per CBSL. Today it is USD 5.7 billion—down USD 0.3 billion. Check the latest; down by 0.3. And by April 10, 2025, the dollar will be Rs. 307; by then it will reach Rs. 310. If Parliament meets on April 10, ask me—I say it will be Rs. 310. With reserves at USD 5.7 billion, in two more months...