Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardena

¶ 01 That is how it changes. Madam Deputy Chairperson of Committees, among the good officers I mentioned, when a new government is appointed there are also officers who try to please that government. We cannot say such people do not exist.

¶ 02 I want to particularly raise a new matter. Although His Excellency is not present in the House now, Hon. Jagath Pinnagodage Withana is a Member representing the Kalutara District from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya. I too am a Member from Kalutara District. In recent days, there was a sensational media sequence about both him and me.

¶ 03 Generally, according to our country’s practice, whether it is a Minister or an MP, when one goes to buy a vehicle, if it is an unregistered vehicle, one goes to register it. When you go to the Department of Motor Traffic and hand over the required documents, that vehicle is registered. If you buy a vehicle that is already registered, anyone would go to the Department of Motor Traffic and ask, “We are going to buy this vehicle; is it legal?” They say it is legal. When it is said to be legal, financial institutions also grant finance facilities. The ability to grant finance facilities exists because the vehicle is a legal vehicle. The Department of Motor Traffic also says it is a legal vehicle.

¶ 04 Madam Deputy Chairperson of Committees, I am not speaking about the matters before court. Because when a judicial process is underway, we have not debated it inside Parliament. I am speaking about one thing. The Walana Anti-Corruption Unit is a unit under the Sri Lanka Police. From that unit, Hon. Jagath Pinnagodage Withana MP’s son was arrested in connection with a vehicle.

¶ 05 That vehicle had been sold by my daughter’s husband—my son-in-law. Then others had taken it from someone else. It had been registered. Now they say there is an issue with it. My only question, which I pose to the officers, is this. That is why I said there are two kinds of officers—good and bad.

¶ 06 Hon. Minister in charge of the Police, I am tabling the “B” Report related to this matter in the House.

¶ 07 Hon. Harsha Nanayakkara, you too are an Attorney-at-Law. You know about this. This is a “B” Report. This is a remarkable “B” Report in Sri Lankan history. What is this “B” Report? Hon. Minister, at one place in this “B” Report, it states: “This vehicle was by the father of the suspect, Jagath Pinnagodage Withana, through the son-in-law of the Member of Parliament Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardena, namely Channa Dhanushka...” My question is, why include in a “B” Report the names of two Members of Parliament—who represent Parliament—just because one could be a daughter, a son-in-law or a son?

¶ 08 If so, let me give an example: Simon’s son Peter cuts coconuts. If he is caught cutting coconuts, do they write in the “B” Report, “It is Simon’s son; he cut coconuts; Peter was brought”? Then is such a “B” Report presented? What are they trying to do? You might not even know about these things. But somewhere, some officer looks to sling mud at those in the Opposition here to score some points, to wear a star. We have seen this before. I say this on experience. If any officers are doing this, these are foolish acts.

¶ 09 Please, see, I am saying this as a father to a son. Do not interrupt—listen a bit. Why? I am a senior. We are of similar age. Therefore I am saying this to set an example to you. I am not making a political criticism of the government here.

¶ 10 Remember, our government too made a mistake: we could not listen to criticism. We opposed criticism and ultimately had to go home; houses were set on fire. Therefore, Hon. Minister, I am saying do not allow this mistake to happen to anyone. Do not use this for political propaganda. These are ordinary matters. I say very clearly: protect public officers who work; protect police officers who work; punish those who do not work. We too will stand with you for that. No matter what you do as a government, you will never be able to satisfy 100% of the people.

¶ 11 Thank you for giving me time. I resume my seat, Madam Deputy Chairperson of Committees.