The Hon. S.M. Marikkar

¶ 01 I wondered whether it was even possible to lie to this extent. It was claimed that the largest natural disaster in Sri Lanka’s history was the “Ditha” cyclone. Then what was the tsunami? By telling such lies and misleading people, and when people protest, you seek to extend the emergency to intimidate them.

¶ 02 We in the Opposition did our duty; that is why, three months ago, Ranwala was removed from office after his falsehoods were exposed. We also exposed the 323-container fraud. Despite attempts to silence us, we persisted. Even though you used your majority to halt bringing the President, Prime Minister, and ministers before committees today, when governments change you will not be able to stop accountability. This government dances to the tune of businessmen. We exposed a multi-plug deal for a single businessman because we are not afraid. The coal fraud caused losses of at least Rs. 8,497 million from nine ships; more losses will surface within weeks.

¶ 03 [Expunged on the order of the Chair.]

¶ 04 Ultimately, the minister had to resign despite the President trying to save him. When the people rise, ministers must resign.

¶ 05 There’s a new fraud: during the previous government, plans were made to levy VAT on non-degummed crude palm oil imports. This government has not collected it. In February last year, when I questioned the PM, she accepted it must be collected. Yet after one year and three months, it still has not been collected. About 63,000 metric tons have been imported; at about Rs. 120 per kilogram, roughly Rs. 8,000 million in taxes should have been collected. The PM, Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, and State Finance Minister Anil Jayanta all agreed in Parliament it should be collected. Still, even assessments have not been sent. Why? Is it to help donors to certain funds? We call this an Rs. 8 billion fraud.

¶ 06 You keep chanting about 76 years of “curse.” Debts from those 76 years have been paid down, you claim. Fine. You “imported” the Treasury Secretary from Australia, yet he supposedly did not know until USD 2.5 million had moved? This hacking tale is a farce. A hacker, by definition, takes money without any approvals, but here the “hacker” obtained approvals from 14 people! Then was the USD 600,000 sent from the Postal Department also by a hacker? The Rs. 500 million paid twice due to oversight—also hackers? The Rs. 13,500 million paid through the 1411 channel—also hackers? Meanwhile, through the Central Bank, people have lost money; either it went into someone’s pocket or is missing. Due to your incompetence and weakness, Rs. 18,200 million has been lost across duplicate payments via 1411, RDA payments via Bank of Ceylon, and Postal Department payments.

¶ 07 The worst part is that these allegations point to friends of the President. The coal fraud allegations involve a friend of the President; the Treasury loss allegations involve a friend of the President “imported” from Australia. You cannot silence us with fairy tales or by this emergency. Harsha Suriyapperuma, the Treasury Secretary, must be held accountable and should resign. Now they are also “handling” the Rebuilding Sri Lanka fund — God help us.

¶ 08 You kept railing at former governments, claiming you never do wrong. But documents show otherwise. During a previous government, the United Solar company — one that EPF/ETF could not collect from and was before courts — was proposed 1,200 acres in Punakari for solar panels. The then Minister Jayakody with another Tamil party leader advanced it. There are major irregularities; we will reveal more.

¶ 09 Now hackers hit NDB, Central Bank, and the Insurance Corporation, while others come here to manipulate Telecom. These telecom scams severely harm our economy and foreign investment. To hide your incompetence and theft, no emergency law will stop the people from rising.

¶ 10 The President challenged us to hold meetings without media; we proved it on May Day. The previous time, the powerful fled, jumping walls — Gota fled without bail. Laugh if you wish, but next time some of you won’t return to Parliament.

¶ 11 Finally, Mr. President, the Rs. 18,200 million losses must be accounted for by Treasury Secretary Harsha Suriyapperuma. Remove him, or you will not be able to save your image. I conclude.