The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, at the outset I wish to say: the role of the Opposition is to point out shortcomings in Government transactions, to highlight any fraud and corruption, and to bring them to the attention of Parliament. I do not know who, if anyone, has sold themselves for money. If someone has done so and is speaking here after being bought, then name them. Simply alleging people are bought, without naming them, has no meaning and no result. Moreover, you are accusing those whom you yourselves brought to power. We did not vote for that group; we have not worked with them politically. You are the ones who seated all those “Dutugemunus” in power and destroyed this. You are stakeholders in that. So do not accuse us of being part of it. You empowered them and now you scold them. Resolve your internal issues elsewhere.

¶ 02 No one in the Samagi Jana Balawegaya has allegations of corruption here. No one in the SJB has court cases. During our period in Government, none of us had blood on our hands or took bribes. We are acting cleanly. Those you brought to power are clinging to everything—and you have your share as well. Do not forget that share.

¶ 03 When this debate began, the Minister made a good opening—he said, “Do not trust the ‘Kota’ people.” I do not know why he started like that. Having played the game with the “Kota” man, has the Minister now abandoned him, or has the “Kota” man switched sides? From the very start he said, “Don’t trust the ‘Kota’ people.” Then who is that “Kota” man? Who put the Minister in difficulty? He should have told us.

¶ 04 On the coal issue, you asked what the loss is. The Ceylon Electricity Board has issued a report dated 19 February 2026, signed by Engineer Kumara, General Manager, CEB. He states that from the eight coal-arrival vessels, losses amount to Rs. 7,672 million—that is Rs. 7.6 billion. That is from the CEB. So wasn’t there a loss from that deal? The report also says the penalty has not yet been claimed, but the loss is calculated even without penalties. Penalties are not yet included. So isn’t that a loss? Is talking about that loss the same as speaking for a company? Isn’t that the people’s money? Money that could provide relief to the public? Why do you get upset when we raise it? Why do you behave like tarred bull-carts, groaning when losses are discussed? When you make blunders, are we in the Opposition supposed to keep our mouths shut?