The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan

¶ 01 Please give me one more minute, Madam.

¶ 02 During the last Presidential and Parliamentary election periods, the new Government put forward two matters. One was to publish the list of Members of Parliament connected to bar licences and corruption. However, they have now fielded, for the upcoming local authorities’ election, a businessman from Pesalai who holds bar licences. Further, in the Nanattan Pradeshiya Sabha division, there is not even a single Sinhala person, yet the Government has nominated a Sinhalese as the candidate for the national list bonus seat. In what sense has this been done? I ask that here.

¶ 03 I will conclude my speech.

¶ 04 Last week, the Prime Minister of India visited here. Several agreements were signed on that occasion. Many said this would lean towards China, or towards the United States. But it was India that first attempted to lift Sri Lanka from its downturn. India is our neighbour. From our perspective, these agreements are correct. If China’s backers—its adherents—attempt to disrupt Sri Lanka’s efforts to raise the economy to a higher level, we will certainly oppose it. Moreover, we cannot allow any of China’s activities in the North and East. With that, I thank you for the opportunity and take my leave.