The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka

¶ 01 I asked for 11 minutes, Sir.

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, while discussing key Ministries, I wish to raise points on two areas affecting my District and the country.

¶ 03 On tourism: quoting numbers alone is useless; arrivals must yield revenue. The highest arrivals were recorded in 2018 under the Yahapalana Government: 2,333,796 tourists, generating US$ 4.38 billion. This year, 2025, the Government projected three million arrivals and US$ 5 billion in revenue. But by November, approximately two million have arrived, and revenue so far is US$ 2.658 billion—well below 2018, by about US$ 1.5–2 billion.

¶ 04 Further, nearly 90 percent of large listed hotel companies have suffered losses over the past six months. A main cause is inadequate promotional work by the Government. We must target higher-spending tourists. Current promotions are unsatisfactory. The Minister is absent; his attention is needed. Counting arrivals alone does not bring dollars.

¶ 05 Also, the Tourism Development Authority levies a 1 percent tax from all institutions in the sector for global promotion, yielding Rs. 15 billion. Due to the Government’s incapacity and lack of proper oversight, these funds are not effectively used for promotion. For example, Rs. 500 million from those funds has been used for the restoration of Beira Lake—work that should be done by the UDA or Colombo Municipal Council. If this continues, we will miss targets and harm those engaged in tourism. Investor appetite—foreign and local—will diminish, affecting GDP growth.

¶ 06 As an MP from a tourism region, I highlight key issues: lack of proper solid waste and wastewater management in tourist zones, causing environmental harm; insufficient piped water; shortage of trained personnel.

¶ 07 Security matters too. Considering regional security and our Easter Sunday experience, national security is critical for tourism.

¶ 08 On the justice sector in my District: lawyers lack adequate chambers in some complexes—Balapitiya, Elpitiya, Udugama. Obtaining case records is a serious problem. Birth certificates have been digitized nationwide, allowing copies at any Divisional Secretariat—an initiative envisioned decades ago and realized later. Likewise, digitizing case records would greatly aid citizens and lawyers. Today, even by the next date, records are often not available due to lack of computers and staff. Please address computing resources and operators.

¶ 09 Case delays—especially land cases—are notorious; backlogs exist at Magistrates’, District, High, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court levels. A primary cause is delay in service of summons and notices, currently via Fiscal and Grama Niladhari routes; defendants evade service. Prior reforms allowed electronic addresses for attorneys (2017 No. 8 amendment) and, under Act No. 43 of 2024, electronic service. But Registrars must be given tools—phones with WhatsApp etc.—for practical implementation. Without that, laws do not translate into practice.

¶ 10 When judges are transferred, previously their children could enter popular schools in the new area; those facilities have been withdrawn, which can pressure independence. Please consider restoring appropriate arrangements.

¶ 11 Finally, many new lawyers now qualify from abroad as well; reportedly around 2,000 join annually, intensifying competition and prompting unethical practices by some. The Government should ensure proper professional frameworks and standards.

¶ 12 Please also consider establishing a court to better serve Imaduwa and Habaraduwa areas. As a Minister with ties to Galle, your attention is appreciated. As population grows, so do cases; align the court system accordingly.

¶ 13 Thank you for the opportunity.