The Hon. T.B. Sarath - Deputy Minister of Housing

¶ 01 Madam Deputy Chairperson of Committees, in my maiden speech I first bow to the people of Polonnaruwa District for electing me to this august House, together with four other MPs at the recent election.

¶ 02 The Opposition has made rice the centerpiece of their critique today. In 1977, agriculture contributed about 35% of state income; today it is around 7%. If we face crises in rice, coconut, and other crops, the root cause is here: agriculture was systematically undermined with the open economy—eroded, broken, destroyed. Those who led that destruction must accept responsibility. Many now lamenting were architects of that ruin.

¶ 03 This Government has not even completed two months in office; only about two weeks have passed since key institutional changes and ministerial appointments. If there were a seed that yielded in two weeks, we could offer an immediate answer—but paddy takes at least six months from planting to harvest.

¶ 04 In my district there are 38 paddy stores. Over the last five years, not a single grain of paddy was stored in them. Polonnaruwa’s annual production is around 345,000 metric tons, from roughly 69,000 hectares (Yala) and 71,000 hectares (Maha), at an estimated 100 bushels per acre. Yet today, these stores—with capacity of about 41,700 metric tons—are empty. Who destroyed the Paddy Marketing Board? In 1977, we had three major mills—Maha Illuppallama, Embilipitiya, and Palugasdamana—obtained with assistance from the Soviet Union. All were allowed to decay.

¶ 05 Now they cry about a rice mafia. Who paved the road for it? The very figures leading the Opposition. One of the largest mills in Polonnaruwa—represented by an Opposition figure—holds around 90,000 metric tons, yet they do not speak of that. To those who ask where the laughter is, look in the mirror—you will find where the joke lies.

¶ 06 On education and yesterday’s incident at the Ministry: the Deputy Minister and the Secretary were present and invited the protesters to talk. The Prime Minister, as subject Minister, took a proposal to the Cabinet. Some with degrees refused dialogue and later attacked Police with blades; the Police acted under the law. We have led thousands of protests—have we ever heard of slashing an officer’s throat? There is politics behind such acts. The Opposition should look in the mirror to see the cause behind these effects. We are ready to deliver answers within five years—ending chauvinism, building national unity among Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, and Malay communities, uplifting the rural economy, and resolving these issues. Thank you.