The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam

¶ 01 As Minister of Defence, please explain the true position. What exactly is in this budgetary line? Clarify to the people whether the talk about defence expenditure is true or false.

¶ 02 We have repeatedly said that in a small country like Sri Lanka, you must control defence spending to fix the economy. Under Gotabaya Rajapaksa we saw the Army deployed to build structures and do all sorts of things. Now this Government, under the Clean Sri Lanka programme, is using the Sri Lanka Army to build 1,000 schools and to make desks, chairs and benches. Is the Sri Lanka Army being used to make desks, chairs and benches?

¶ 03 Your policy manifesto “A Prosperous Country – A Beautiful Life” says you will systematically develop the Army. Yet, even now teams are used to make desks, chairs and benches. At the last Ministerial Consultative Committee on Defence, we said that in the North and East, Army, Navy and Air Force camps are holding land that is needed for schools and markets. Such places are still under the Sri Lanka Air Force and Sri Lanka Navy. When I said in Parliament last week that these must be released, our friend Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam said even the seven acres you said were released are still not released. You have a clear mandate. We expect you to take this responsibility and deliver justice, Hon. President.

¶ 04 I must also ask: your election manifesto on page 194 said you would immediately bring a new Constitution and abolish the Executive Presidency. Not only abolish it, but immediately bring a new Constitution. Yet, up to now there has been no discussion on abolishing the Executive Presidency. Such reforms must be done when the Government is popular, Hon. President. Do it while you have popularity, rather than delaying endlessly. What we have heard from our Leader is only that the name of Mr. Sajith Premadasa will be placed as permanent Leader of the Opposition. That is all we know of the “new Constitution.” We know nothing else. We expect a responsible answer from you on this.

¶ 05 Please also clarify this: there is news that everyone above the rank of Colonel in the intelligence service has been removed. It is said that intelligence at the top is now being run by an officer who helped the NPP during the election. We look forward to your clarification. Otherwise the usual answer comes: “This is a threat to national security; therefore we cannot answer.” We have heard that too many times.

¶ 06 Sometimes I feel sorry for the President. He travelled the country, did a massive job, built public opinion, and brought a two-thirds power to this Parliament. But watching the antics of certain Ministers and MPs here, one feels pity for the President. At night in Pelawatte, perhaps he holds his head wondering what he is doing, given what some say here. Our Leader of the House said he will raise the quality of Parliament. But when the Minister of Justice says things like “what does someone in a cesspit know about honey,” it looks like the President brought a beehive and gave it to a cesspit. People in the cesspit cannot tell filth from honey, yet they speak from there. Is this what is meant by raising the quality of Parliament? That is why I say I feel sorry for the President. Comparing what was promised during the election with what is happening now, that feeling grows.

¶ 07 You said money hidden in Uganda would be brought back. What action has been taken on the VFS deal? What about the passport deal? You yourself raised the sugar tax scam in this House—has any action been taken? What about the coconut oil contamination? What action has been taken regarding Avant Garde? We are receiving a lot of information these days about Avant Garde, which we will reveal in due course. Regarding the bond scam, we already knew, under the Extradition Law he cannot be brought. But then you said you would bring him quickly. Now you again say he cannot be brought under the Extradition Law. The people gave a mandate to catch thieves. Are you catching them or not? We have a big question on that.

¶ 08 The Minister of Justice and National Integration says he will establish an Independent Prosecutor’s Office. But the Foreign Minister went to Geneva and did not utter a word where accountability should be discussed. He returns to Sri Lanka and then says: “We must abolish the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), but except for abolishing the PTA, we will never agree to bring a replacement law.” Now the Justice Minister says Cabinet approval has been given to bring a law to replace the PTA. So, what was said on political platforms and what is being done now are contradictory.

¶ 09 Hon. President, you also act as Minister of Finance. I have repeatedly raised this here. Recently, Rs. 966 billion in tax reliefs were given. Even the IMF opposes this. Why has the Government not clawed back those Rs. 966 billion in tax concessions? And now in 2025, that Rs. 966 billion relief is being given again.