The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, my second supplementary question is this.

¶ 02 At present the centres are already under your Ministry Secretary, with the Government Agent, Divisional Secretary, ASP in charge locally, etc. Even accepting what you say, no more is needed. In your own village—Thambuttegama—the traders themselves are canvassing against this, asking not to proceed. We do not know anyone there. Your own village traders are leading the opposition. Give me a minute, please. Then accept that it is not just we who oppose. I accept that shops are being sold, etc. But the three persons you appointed to the centre are your personal associates. You nominated the three names to the Treasury; the subject Minister’s three nominees are appointed to the Board.

¶ 03 I say this is not good for the President or the Government. You are creating an unnecessary problem with the economic centres. Note that. Whether it happens or not, the end result is that you could not even step into Dambulla market; you were not allowed to enter. Accept that. I am presenting a national issue here.