The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today’s debate seeks approval of the regulations presented under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act. Given the grave difficulties our people face at this moment, I will use my minutes to highlight those issues.

¶ 02 Historically, people judged governments on what they did and did not do. This time, however, people granted power without weighing past actions. Our opponents’ past excesses were well-known, yet the people, swayed by your rhetoric and grand promises, entrusted you with government. Today, faith in those words is shattered. When the Government says, “Don’t queue; there is enough fuel,” both your voters and non-voters line up for fuel. When you say there is enough gas, more people queue for gas. If you say fuel prices won’t rise, the public expects increases. If you say electricity tariffs won’t go up, everyone knows higher tariffs are imminent to cover the losses of corrupt coal deals.

¶ 03 The greatest damage to a person, a party, or a Government is the loss of trust in their word. That is where this Government stands today. New jokes are heard across villages about broken promises. The situation cannot be managed with old-fashioned spin.

¶ 04 We already see the war’s impact within just two weeks; people feel it on the streets. If this conflict continues, both immediate and post-war effects will be severe. The Government must seriously consult experts and implement practical solutions, not engage in usual theatrics.

¶ 05 It is harvest season. Farmers need proper fuel scheduling for their machinery. The fisheries sector needs adequate fuel to go to sea and return. Presently, some can go out but cannot return due to lack of fuel. Address these practically.

¶ 06 Hon. Presiding Member, please grant me two more minutes.

¶ 07 Tourist season is ongoing. Vehicles serving tourists need assured fuel access. If logistics hubs do not get fuel, national supply chains will break. Hundreds of thousands relying on three-wheel hires for daily income will face survival issues without fuel. Heavy machinery—backhoes, dozers, and trucks—also need adequate allocations, or millions of livelihoods will be affected.

¶ 08 Our major tea buyers in the Middle East—such as Iran—may face constraints. What diplomatic steps has the Government taken? Smallholder tea advances are being cut at a time when Sinhala and Tamil New Year advances are due. There is growing concern about fertilizer availability.

¶ 09 Another problem: people who bought vehicles recently still run on old registration systems; they cannot even generate a QR code to travel or queue for fuel. Please address these anomalies urgently.

¶ 10 Finally, as the New Year approaches, recall that on your first January 1 after taking office, there was no salt; now for your first New Year, there is no rice or coconuts. Last year people suffered without essentials. This year, it appears there will be “no auspicious times, no oil.” We never expected such a state given your glorious promises—like saying there would be no queues except at cinemas, or that fuel was expensive due to limitless taxes and ministerial commissions. We are not asking you to zero taxes—but at least reduce this tax burden by 50 percent now to give relief. You once said, “If global oil prices rise, raise locally; if they fall, reduce locally. Why have a government otherwise?” Please remember your own words.

¶ 11 At the end, you showed how to reduce electricity tariffs by 33 percent with calculations. Now, due to corrupt coal and fuel procurements, people know power bills will rise soon. Please provide relief from the Treasury rather than piling burdens on the public.