The Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, please allow me a little more time.

¶ 02 We must emphasize this. You have come here democratically. You may be in the Opposition, but you are still Members of Parliament. Do not sell yourselves for money; do not come here to speak for companies. Protect the people’s mandate; work as MPs; act for the public interest. Instead of doing that, why are you pointing fingers at the Government and creating a commotion on behalf of a single company? All this is being done for one company.

¶ 03 We have no issue with that company per se. Hon. Presiding Member, what we need to understand is this: if a company is qualified, if pricing is in line with the process, if tender conditions are given—just as the President said we even awarded to a company linked to Hon. Dilith Jayaweera—then we have no problem. We are not looking at anything politically. If they meet the tender conditions, anyone can win the tender. That is how it should be. What are you doing? Not just in this Debate, but look at any discussion on energy: you are undermining democratic public discourse and the space for public dialogue. Stop this behavior. As an Opposition, if you truly want to critique the Government, do so without turning it into a farce. You are de-legitimizing yourselves by selling your credibility for money. We are genuinely saddened by this sham. There is nothing more to be said. Do your job as the Opposition, rather than staging these frivolous debates.

¶ 04 Thank you very much.