The Hon. Hesha Withanage

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Deputy Chairperson.

¶ 02 As I address the Tenth Parliament for the first time, I thank the people of Ratnapura District for electing me for a third term. I extend best wishes to the Prime Minister, Ministers, Government MPs, and to the Leader of the Opposition and the entire Opposition.

¶ 03 We must truly change Parliamentary culture. For years, a single ruling bloc managed institutions as it wished; we even heard of phone calls to courts to rescue accused. The people gave a mandate to expel such traditions. Those who received that mandate must protect it and ensure old practices vanish.

¶ 04 I listened to Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe’s speech via live broadcast; he said yesterday’s incident should not have happened. Those who protested outside Isurupaya were not underworld thugs; many were graduates, professionals—some may even have voted for you. To brand them as gangsters is wrong. Freedom to protest must be protected. I have not known police to cut up batons or use zip-ties as seen—this must be investigated by the President.

¶ 05 Also, the Prime Minister remains in office—he should examine yesterday’s events ex post. Further, to Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa, in our Ratnapura District a JVP candidate from the last local government nominations has been remanded by Wevelwatte Police in relation to an assault on workers building a hydropower plant. One victim is hospitalized. Please look into this—let there be no return to the past when MPs phoned DIGs and OICs to get people off the hook.

¶ 06 Regarding my Private Member’s motion: as Minister Handunnetti himself has said—if anyone doubts such reforms will be done, record it—MPs from distant districts should have official accommodation when in Colombo. But if the Government now says “the people don’t have such facilities, so MPs don’t need them; no pensions either,” then keep your promises. You pledged to abolish MPs’ pensions within 24 hours—you don’t need months for that. Don’t betray the mandate with attractive slogans that go unfulfilled.

¶ 07 Finally, Maintain decorum: MPs making TikTok videos—even from the Opposition Leader’s chair—undermine this House. If they want to make TikToks, ask them to do it elsewhere. Please take steps to preserve the dignity of Parliament. Thank you.