Hon. Thanura Dissanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chair, this morning Members of the Opposition spoke about history and the present situation resulting therefrom. Today is a historic day; a day Sri Lankans should speak for the present and future, to undertake much necessary work. Yet the Opposition chose to speak of history.

¶ 02 July 23, 1983 is not an isolated day. A ruling party used thuggery to plunge the country into a state of pain that persists, creating problems still unresolved. Internationally too, it brought disgrace. The then UNP Government bears responsibility. They did not merely encounter nationalism; they systematically created it using State power.

¶ 03 From 1977, after the UNP came to power, various groups were suppressed in an organized manner, acting against democracy and the law. Until a Government with a genuine aim of peace and reconciliation came—until today’s National People’s Power Government—various political movements governed; but they represented only one group—Tamil, Muslim, or Sinhala—each using nationalism for politics. Today it is different: our people have united to truly build a Sri Lankan nation and peace.

¶ 04 In 2008, even without State power, our Socialist Youth Union marked a Day of Fraternity. Today we are in Government, with a Youth Affairs Ministry, creating a modern, peace-loving citizen. Some in Opposition say we politicize this. Never in history have chairpersons and ministers been appointed without family connections as we are doing now.

¶ 05 In the past, Youth Affairs institutions were run by the old parties. What did they produce for ordinary youth outside their family networks? Nationalism has been used to oppress all our people.

¶ 06 In 1981, in anti-democratic fashion, the Jaffna DDC election was rigged. As Hon. Shritharan noted, today our youth travel by Yal Devi to celebrate fraternity—back then, in 1981, goons were bussed to steal votes. Those who governed bear responsibility. Changing this is not easy, but we must ask: how do we change? We have spoken enough of history; how do we go from present to future? As a national movement now in Government, we have brought political stability with a strong foundation across North, South, East, and the Hill Country. We are not a Government for piecemeal fixes; we seek solutions to the national question. Our political philosophy is to govern for unity—not to weaponize nationalism as old Governments did. We have ended political instability.

¶ 07 Some in the Opposition want to destabilize and return to power. As a democratic Government with the people, we will not allow that. We must now connect political stability to economic development. Unless we broaden the economy to North, South, East, and the central hills, we cannot build a prosperous, harmonious nation.

¶ 08 Please allow me a brief extension. As the NPP Government, we are expanding the economy into the North with Rs. 5 billion worth of development—bridges, reopening roads closed for 15 years—and will continue progressive measures. Socially, we will in future celebrate a Sri Lankan Day. We invite all Sri Lankans across all provinces to dedicate themselves to learn from July 23 and build our nation politically, economically, and socially, joining hands across all regions. I conclude.

¶ 09 Thank you.