The Hon. Sudath Balagalla

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, though the Opposition made much noise this morning, not one of those 60-odd Members are here now. On this Adjournment Motion, there is the elephant issue. For 76 years, these elephants have been here. Those in the Opposition then never asked for prosperity, not Aswesuma, not houses, not to send baby elephants to school. Animals want only three things: habitat, water, and food. For 76 years the Opposition failed to provide these three, and now they shed crocodile tears for elephants. We will take responsibility—as the people take responsibility for dogs, cats, and cattle, the government takes responsibility for wild animals too. While six or seven elephants died there today, in my own village two people killed by elephants are being buried. For 76 years the Opposition failed both human and animal rights. We will in the coming period ensure land, water, and forage for wildlife. This National Government is building tanks and feed. We will secure animal rights that the Opposition destroyed for 76 years. That is why we took power: to do what you failed to do.

¶ 02 As for paddy prices, those who never bought a grain of paddy now question our prices. After the Budget, it is the Opposition, not the people, who seemed hurt. They cannot construct a rational critique.

¶ 03 On this elephant issue, we have scientific answers earned through decades of struggle for both animals and people. We will create the necessary forest corridors. Of 12 designated elephant corridors, eight are now blocked. They were not gazetted. Along elephant paths, blue and green “big men” granted land and closed corridors. Now elephants and other wildlife have no passages; people also have no means to live. We are ready to answer this Opposition which destroyed both human and animal lives over 76 years. We will build a good country and society where humans and animals can live together. I second the Motion.

¶ 04 [Certain remarks expunged on the order of the Chair.]