The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, our policy is to fully support beneficial, pro‑people programmes and to oppose harmful actions, pointing out shortcomings and offering alternatives.

¶ 02 First, the gap between campaign promises and present actions: you promised to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act; yet the PTA is now used to suppress freedom of speech, media freedom, and civil liberties, including crackdowns on social media activists—the same social media that aided your electoral victory. If you said you would repeal it, stop this repression.

¶ 03 Over 50 percent of our GDP growth is driven by MSMEs. The temporary moratorium on parate is due to lapse on 15 December, and we hear it may be extended—good—but accompany it with measures to revive MSMEs: support CRIB‑listed firms to restructure, provide affordable working capital, consider write‑downs and interest relief where feasible, because their collapse was driven by the Easter attacks, COVID, and the sovereign default.

¶ 04 Disaster Management Centre data show about 5.2 million people are affected by adverse weather—floods, landslides, housing damage, loss of life. The Government should launch an urgent relief programme. Convene the National Council for Disaster Management—which includes the Opposition—when such disasters occur.

¶ 05 Disasters know no race, religion, caste, class, or party. We must join hands, use existing mechanisms, fix gaps, and respond strongly.

¶ 06 Coordinate with the Department of Meteorology to procure needed Doppler radar systems for real‑time flash flood warnings; the World Bank and Japan (JICA) are prepared to assist—please engage them.

¶ 07 Assess agricultural losses from floods and their impact on food security. We hear the proposed relief of Rs. 120,000 has been reduced to Rs. 40,000; please provide the maximum support to those affected.

¶ 08 There is a grave crisis in health. Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa has highlighted shortages—Insulin, Sodium Bicarbonate, Irinotecan, Carboplatin. Today’s news reports equipment failures at Lady Ridgeway’s special needs dental clinic. Please address these shortages urgently; we will support solutions.

¶ 09 On agriculture, fertilizer subsidies are not implemented properly. Data indicate only 217,985 have received the Rs. 25,000 grant; tranches of Rs. 15,000 have reached 228,000 and 165,000. Please deliver the Rs. 25,000 fertilizer support to the targeted 612,000 farmers as announced.

¶ 10 We saw many Development Officers protesting at the Education Ministry. They served crucially during COVID for teacher recruitment etc., yet now more than five have been arrested. Engage in dialogue and agree on a roadmap with timeframes, not repression.

¶ 11 On the rice shortage: platforms declared no imports ever, yet now imports have begun while commodity prices are rising rapidly. Adopt a clear, sustainable, consistent programme to stabilize rice supply so people can afford essentials.

¶ 12 You rejected the fuel pricing formula and promised immediate price cuts upon coming to power, with no margin between landed cost and retail. Please implement what you promised.

¶ 13 Hon. Prime Minister, before joining Parliament you and your side spoke in various fora against mass appointments. Preserve our freedoms, media freedom, and do not misuse the PTA; a judge has indicated what can and cannot be brought under it—please reflect on that.

¶ 14 Finally, you stated you would change the Debt Sustainability Agreement, revise the IMF programme, raise the taxable income threshold from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 200,000, reduce VAT, etc. Have these positions been incorporated into the recent IMF Staff‑Level Agreement? Or are you continuing the Ranil Wickremesinghe Government’s path whose painful consequences we’ve endured for two years? For transparency, table the Staff‑Level Agreement.

¶ 15 I conclude by quoting President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s statement of 28 April 2023 on the IMF:

¶ 16 “We represent ground reality. This agreement does not resolve ground reality. Therefore, we vote against it.”

¶ 17 He consistently opposed the way the IMF process was implemented. I ask: is “ground reality” now to raise your hand for the same IMF arrangement? We accept we must operate within an IMF framework, but negotiate to remove anti‑people harmful elements. Beyond speeches, we will support you to do so.

¶ 18 You must walk the talk—implement what you promised, the democratic and pro‑people measures. You will have our fullest support for that.

¶ 19 Thank you.

¶ 20 Placed in the Library.