The Hon. Sanjeewa Ranasingha

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, in today’s debate, the Opposition said the meaning and operation of Clean Sri Lanka are unclear. Given how some past initiatives were carried out, we understand such skepticism. But if unclear, we should clarify it—within the government ranks as well.

¶ 02 Hon. Nalin Bandara said the programme is unclear, and that a “bar culture” is being created instead of plans for a prosperous country and beautiful life. We, too, recognize many things need cleaning and are not yet clean. In the last elections we were given a mandate to correct much of what this country failed to do.

¶ 03 We know where Sri Lanka once stood. By the 1950s, Sri Lanka had Asia’s second‑strongest economy after Japan at 84 percent parity. But by 2025, when we assumed power, the country had collapsed economically, gone bankrupt, malnourished, disaster‑stricken, forcing youth to emigrate and mothers to leave infants to work abroad. Industries collapsed; child exploitation worsened; parents were dragged onto the street.

¶ 04 Those who created such a state will naturally find fault with this programme. There are countries where people live happily; those societies know their limits, including with alcohol consumption. In a country beset by poverty, frustration and mental breakdowns, joy is lost. The former rulers seeded social problems and normalized behaviours that destroyed lives. Changing that social order, and creating contented human beings, is part of Clean Sri Lanka.

¶ 05 We believe many areas must be addressed within this programme to achieve a “prosperous country – beautiful life.” The people gave us a power we did not ask for because they saw our aim. We will read that mandate properly and proceed.

¶ 06 We held two elections close together under a strong President. Those elections were the most peaceful in our history—no arson, no attacks. We have created a different political culture. Some say they never took official residences or jobs for relatives; but we know the past—how embassies, agencies, and departments in developed capitals were seeded with their progeny. While we can appreciate any individual virtue, our ministers are acting without abusing privileges and with a common purpose. We are a cohesive government implementing Clean Sri Lanka together.

¶ 07 Transforming political culture is hard, but we are doing it. We have built a movement and a government not for private aims but for a public purpose.

¶ 08 Some tried to turn your crisis into ours by arguing about paddy, rice, coconut, etc. On rice, for instance, the Opposition asked about mafias; yet a leading miller, nurtured by that mafia, was lined up to enter Parliament via a national list—now they cry crocodile tears. Such theatrics will not become reality.

¶ 09 Therefore, we must implement Clean Sri Lanka with strength, courage and confidence. Let us invite the people to build a prosperous country and a beautiful life. Thank you.