The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law - Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs

¶ 01 [12.10 p.m.]

¶ 02 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I wished to respond to points from the Opposition. There have been Members who use unparliamentary words and demean the House. We must maintain standards on both sides; unparliamentary expressions should be expunged.

¶ 03 Turning to the business: We seek to extend the Emergency Regulations and approve related orders. The Opposition seems to await any climatic or weather disruption to mobilize unrest. We have never used Emergency Regulations to suppress democracy or civil rights; they are to facilitate the Commissioner General of Essential Services in supporting the public amid the “Dicha” cyclone and the current war-like global environment. We do not use Emergency for narrow political retribution as in the past; we act under law.

¶ 04 Some predicted this Government would fall on certain dates; those dates have passed. Governments fall when the economy collapses and cannot be managed. When we assumed office, we inherited a bankrupt economy with depleted rupee and dollar reserves. Now, at our second Budget, the President announced that we have adequate rupee and dollar liquidity. Our stabilization is reaching village level through proper administrative mechanisms. Predictions of collapse will not materialize.

¶ 05 If we cannot uphold political ethics, we should leave. Our People’s Mandate includes political morality. We have demonstrated we are different—refusing attempts to drag us down to the same level. We have abolished excessive, unjustified privileges—those of retired Presidents, and MPs’ pensions—through law, despite threats and resistance, to narrow the gap between citizens and public representatives. That is political morality. If the Opposition seeks power, be better than us.

¶ 06 On national unity: some might try to exploit religion or ethnicity to gain power. In both the Presidential and General Elections, religion-based criticisms were leveled at us. Our practical governance has answered those. Our slogan is “National Unity through Equality,” respecting all—Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, Malay. We will not allow divisive tactics—be it stoking ethno-religious discord with symbolic stunts—to destabilize the Government. We govern under and with respect for the law.

¶ 07 Thus, extending the Emergency is to enable essential public functions, including remaining tasks in post-“Dicha” relief. Additionally, the Middle East conflict impacts our energy security; we must respond responsibly. Therefore, the extension is warranted.

¶ 08 Furthermore, as indicators: per Freedom House’s political rights/civil liberties, Sri Lanka improved from the 80s rank to 63; on the Corruption Perceptions Index, from 121st (2024) to 107th (2025), an improvement of 14 places—reflecting better governance. We will answer arguments, not mudslinging. Thank you.