The Hon. Dewananda Suraweera

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I am pleased to join the debate on extending the emergency under the Public Security Ordinance.

¶ 02 The primary reason for the proclamation was the devastation caused by the Ditva cyclone. On 29 November the President declared emergency to control and manage the aftermath. This is not to curtail democracy, ban unions, or prohibit assemblies. It is to expedite procurement for rapid reconstruction: repairing roads, bridges, culverts, allocating lands swiftly for displaced, and ensuring essential services—electricity, fuel, gas, health, and transport—reach the people. It also provides legal cover to protect public officers working at speed.

¶ 03 With emergency in place, we could move quickly to provide relief and stabilize lives. The Opposition historically used emergency to suppress the public; we have extended it for three months without undermining democracy, assemblies, or protests. Our sole aim is to restore normalcy and accelerate reconstruction for economic revival, tourism, and investment, and to deliver immediate relief to affected citizens. The Opposition, which long ruled and ruined the nation, now in this “second Parliament,” continues its destructive politics. We welcome constructive criticism, but meaningless attacks help no one.