The Hon. Ashoka Gunasena

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, as a political movement, whether in Parliament or across the country, we work to make Sri Lanka a prosperous country and to give our people a beautiful life. For 76 years, those who ruled left us a poor country with indebted, suffering people. We have always aimed to change that.

¶ 02 Today we discuss a regulation under the Foreign Exchange Act and regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act. Since morning, the small Opposition group here—those who ruled previously—keep pointing at the finger when we point at the moon. Their vision is narrow. When we talk about increasing reserves, they focus on trivialities, trying to obstruct our path by seizing on minor matters.

¶ 03 We remember well how they practiced “democracy” in 1988/89. As a student traveling to school, I saw the bodies of youth killed on the roads, under the government of the Opposition Leader’s father. Later at university we learned why fearless youth resisted state repression. That is why we entered politics: to build a prosperous country and a beautiful life for our people. We are not afraid of gunfire, nor of these empty noises. We will continue forward to achieve our goal and invite even the Opposition to join this journey towards excellence, leaving behind the path of degeneration they led for 76 years.