The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I thank you for this opportunity at a time when people, having elected a new Government, are seeing their expectations being disappointed. On prices, you cannot say the Government took office yesterday; around 100 days have passed. Have they managed prices? Take rice. The Government decided to import rice. But did even 10% of the imported rice reach consumers? Most went to chicken feed and beer production. Reasons included aligning the imported rice price to domestic prices by imposing a duty around Rs. 65, and poor quality—people were not ready to buy it at Rs. 230–240 per kilo. If imported rice had been released with a lower duty so that retail could be Rs. 150–160, a segment of consumers would have accepted it according to the quality. They did not do this. As a result, the majority of imported rice went to feed and beer. The Government failed to import at the right time, set the right duty, and take necessary action. Now rice is Rs. 260–270 per kilo.

¶ 02 Price controls failed. When large millers faced shortages, the Government raised the paddy price by Rs. 10 per kilo, but farmers did not receive this benefit; it became an extra profit for large mill owners. Measures to ensure adequate rice in the market also failed. Market management is zero.

¶ 03 On fertilizer subsidies: have they been delivered? Yesterday I visited several paddy fields in Nikaweratiya at dawn. Farmers said they were promised Rs. 15,000, then Rs. 25,000. Even the minimum Rs. 15,000 fertilizer subsidy has not been received. Now the crop is flowering; if the money comes two or three weeks later, do not call it a fertilizer subsidy—call it a “ghost subsidy,” because it will feed only the chaff-cutter after the fact. Most have still not received it. You failed to deliver even the earlier Rs. 15,000, let alone the Rs. 25,000 you promised, due to your failed management. Why haven’t you changed key officials—the Treasury Secretary, the Central Bank Governor, others? Either you lack suitable people, or you fear changing the “engine” designed by Ranil Wickremesinghe would crash the economy. Either way, you kept the same people.

¶ 04 An Hon. Member spoke about the Singapore–Sri Lanka FTA and ETCA. He was very careful to speak in English so the majority would not understand. I ask the media to translate to Sinhala. Back then, you opposed ETCA and the Singapore FTA, claiming Sri Lanka would become a colony of India, doctors and barbers would flood in, and Singaporeans would invade. Now those are embraced like sacred offerings. You went from fascism, to the left, then signaled left and turned hard right—indeed a U-turn. We have no issue with that. Our policy was always that FTAs like Singapore–Sri Lanka and ETCA should be implemented; countries must integrate. Hon. Harsha de Silva always said we must build bridges; we agree. You set the country on fire over these earlier; now accept them.

¶ 05 You have presented a “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, which is good, but it must not be mere optics. Cleaning a canal on camera is fine, but your duty is bigger than that. If you Clean Sri Lanka, clean other areas too. Appoint the right people. At the Merchant Shipping Secretariat, a very competent officer, Capt. Gamini Wilson, was removed and replaced by someone unfit, reportedly a party loyalist from administration. Ask the staff there—many who voted for you oppose this. Give responsibility to the capable.

¶ 06 Please also include fair appointments in your Clean Sri Lanka agenda. Another example: a diplomat Sunil de Silva, later High Commissioner in South Africa, reportedly faced allegations, including misconduct towards a lady officer. He served under different governments and is now said to be a private secretary to Mr. Wijitha Berugoda. Clean Sri Lanka must also clean such matters.

¶ 07 Regarding the Bingiriya incident: our MP there is an innocent, decent, intelligent person, but he has been entangled. He did politics arriving by bus or van. The van owner reportedly faces multiple illicit liquor cases in Hettiipola. The MP was taken to a garment factory using that person’s vehicle. I have represented Bingiriya for 12 years and never visited that factory except during its construction as a CEB contractor installing two 1200 kVA transformers. First, give your MPs vehicles and protection; without vehicles they may rely on bootleggers’ vans. I saw “I am a Buddhist” on that van. I am not alleging he took bribes; perhaps he lacked a vehicle and used a supporter’s. If you want to Clean Sri Lanka, equip MPs so they don’t have to ride with such characters. Ensure their safety; we have seen an MP was once killed. We do not need security, but give your MPs protection—there are different strata in society and risks exist.

¶ 08 I close with this: even at the Opposition Leader’s office ceremony we were served undercooked milk rice that stuck to the hand. Many people today are eating such poor-quality meals; they cannot afford rice. Act immediately to restore proper management and direction. Thank you.