The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member. Through today’s Adjournment Motion, an important issue has been raised. I speak because elephants died after colliding with a train coming from Batticaloa towards Colombo. This is not new; it has happened repeatedly. Batticaloa District faces serious challenges in elephant control. During harvest time, elephants come in numbers and destroy crops. When we MPs ask for elephant firecrackers, officials say only after a January tender can they provide them—this is the present state.

¶ 02 In the past regime, they promised many millions for new electric fences, but in Batticaloa no new fences were set up. I must commend Wildlife Officers in Batticaloa; one officer died while chasing an elephant—our condolences to his family; this happened last year.

¶ 03 To my colleagues in the governing NPP: you are now in government. In an Adjournment Motion we expect solutions. If the Batticaloa District Development Committee adopts a resolution and sends it to you, will you implement it? That is what you must state here.

¶ 04 Since our Hon. Leader is in the House, let me say: an Adjournment Motion is to seek solutions to an urgent issue. Yesterday’s incident is tragic. Yesterday, during an Adjournment Motion about a bar in Ampara, a Minister gave a politicized response. I don’t know what sort of reply we will get today. If you don’t have the courage even to allow clarifications, then don’t respond during Adjournment. We expect proper answers. Even today, in Batticaloa District there are no elephant firecrackers; when requested, they say orders and tenders are needed and then customary procedures follow.

¶ 05 As I entered the Chamber, I heard a Member speaking about past killings. During Adjournment time, do not play politics; you now hold two-thirds power. What do we expect? If elephants approach rail lines in future, let’s install sensors along the track to detect them in advance. I spoke to the Batticaloa Station Master; when a train takes a bend, rocks by the curve hinder visibility of elephants, which caused this accident. Solve such issues rather than talking about opposition killings.

¶ 06 Understand this: you are in power now. Don’t continue campaign-mode speeches in Adjournment debates. We helped you gain power too; we protested nationwide, chanted “Go home Gota!” Today, just because we are in Opposition, do not dismiss what we say. If there is an elephant issue, allow Members to present progressive ideas—install sensors or high-focus lights—bring such proposals, not mere attacks on the Opposition. The people are fed up with that.

¶ 07 Regarding the bar permit yesterday, we said study it first due to public opposition before opening, because once opened, it is hard to close. The Minister read a prepared text—this is posturing. Remember, without President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s face, there would be no Ministers or MPs of yours; the people voted for him. He even sat here with us; he advised me personally on improving my speeches. Do not become arrogant just because you have a two-thirds. We are ready to work together on a progressive solution. I came today from the President’s Innovation Island Summit: there are many innovative ideas—let us discuss those rather than wasting time scolding the Opposition. Elections are over. I end, hoping for a progressive ministerial reply. Thank you.