The Hon. Manoj Rajapaksha

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, we debate the Clean Sri Lanka Project, brought as an Adjournment Motion. It has been two months since new Members took oaths. For two months we have heard only doomsaying from the Opposition. Our Government proceeds calmly, steadily and systematically.

¶ 02 Over seven decades, rulers caused social, economic, political and cultural devastation, leaving people’s aspirations unfulfilled. Those who spent years here as MPs and Ministers now speak as if none of that happened. We discuss Clean Sri Lanka with the aim of making this beautiful island a land where happy people live.

¶ 03 Why such a massive programme? At the last elections, we received mandates from the North, East and the Hill Country; Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim people across the island united to say the NPP can rebuild this country beyond divisions. Our task is not small; we have read that message clearly and built our plans accordingly. Clean Sri Lanka is a flagship programme within our policy framework to create a prosperous life in a prosperous and beautiful country. It spans wide sectors because the social fabric is deteriorated in every field, and we must restore them all.

¶ 04 We must uproot corruption and reinstate people’s aspirations. We will not take the country forward by old methods. We all saw the misuse of vehicles, public property, ministerial perks, theft, fraud, commissions, sugar and garlic scams. Clean Sri Lanka contains what the country needs to move beyond that.

¶ 05 We came to fulfil people’s fresh hopes. Some are visibly agitated because their parliamentary futures are uncertain and their past deceptions are being revealed. There is a saying: the crab has no foam; when it tries to blow foam, the whole world sees it has none. Those who sinned must now face consequences.

¶ 06 Sri Lanka is rich in natural and human resources. To develop, we need clear vision and plan, and we must clean every sector. Clean Sri Lanka’s core purpose is exactly that. We are engaging with State institutions, village communities, volunteers and other structures, and have spent January on awareness. Those who say there is no vision or guide are wrong; we have a vision, a mission and guides. This is not ad hoc; it is well-studied and prepared.

¶ 07 The Opposition claims we have done nothing for the people. Our MPs today listed many reliefs delivered in a short time. The people know this is a people-built Government moving on the correct path. We are not agitated; we will make any sacrifice needed—jobs, positions, everything—to rebuild this country.

¶ 08 As an MP for Kegalle, I must note that past rulers did nothing substantial about the elephant and monkey menace devastating cultivation. We are now engaging village by village, forming committees, and from February implementing measures to protect cultivation and people from wild animal incursions—folding it into Clean Sri Lanka, as rescuing people from their crises is part of this mission. Let us all, Government and Opposition, grasp the correct spirit of Clean Sri Lanka and work for a better tomorrow. Thank you.