The Hon. M.K.M. Aslam

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity.

¶ 02 Today we debate the Heads of Expenditure of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of National Unity. Both are vital because Sri Lanka is home to several communities—Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, Malay, etc.—and we have a history of a 30-year war and 13–14 years of Muslim-related tensions. Therefore, national unity must be given priority.

¶ 03 Sri Lanka gained Independence in 1948 and ended the war in 2009, but on neither occasion did we forge a cohesive Sri Lankan nation. Our foremost responsibility now is nation-building. Under the National People’s Power Government, we are committed to accomplish this.

¶ 04 A question was raised about allocations for institutions under National Unity. Under the Ministry fall ONUR, OR, OMP, DOL, OLC, and NILET. This year’s allocations total Rs. 2,895.5 million across those institutions.

¶ 05 In the past, those in power used the Ministry to create divisions and problems among communities. Now we have acceptance from people in the North, East, and South—Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim—that our Government can build consensus and a single nation through the Ministry of National Unity. The world and the country see this Government as suitable for that task.

¶ 06 Sri Lanka cannot progress without resolving the national question. Our Government recognizes that to develop the country we must build communal harmony, eradicate corruption and fraud, and end impunity. After 59 years, this vision has finally taken root nationally. The people accepted that if Anura is elected President, racist turmoil will not recur. Typically, Presidents do not lose office immediately; but in the past, that has happened.

¶ 07 I also wish to inform our people in the North and East: in this Budget, we have planned to provide assistance to 1,350 people whose properties were damaged due to the war; to provide assistance to 5,000 families of the disappeared; and to provide compensation to victims and for properties damaged in the Easter bombings—through the Ministry of Justice and National Unity. We are a suitable Government to ensure justice and build unity. We will fulfill our responsibilities as accepted—by the President, Ministers, and Members. Thank you.