The Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana

¶ 01 Madam Presiding Member, thank you for the time.

¶ 02 When discussing the Companies (Amendment) Bill, we must focus on investment—both inbound and by our own business community. We saw the impact of US tariff measures on our production. GSP+ is also critical, and will be reviewed by the EU next year. Safeguarding GSP+ is vital for our economic recovery.

¶ 03 On financing terrorism and illicit earnings: recall that Ibrahim funded the 2019 Easter bombings from his business proceeds. Such things can happen again; we must be vigilant. To run companies, attract investors and enable ordinary life, we need peace, law, fairness and justice.

¶ 04 Today, in Marawila, an innocent mother of two and a small child were shot and injured; we do not know if they will survive. One mother has reportedly died. This happened in Puttalam District, the constituency of Hon. Hector Appuhamy. What has happened to security? Gunfire in broad daylight. Previously they blamed “Samu boy” ministers and their henchmen for links with the underworld; those ministers are not there now, yours are. Why are you not properly enforcing the law?

¶ 05 It is also clear that there are serious issues with medicines. Authorities, including doctors, have stated this. For our pharmaceutical exports, NMRA must issue licenses; but these registrations are being delayed. Minister Nalin Jayatissa is striving to improve the health sector, but why are officials not granting the necessary registrations for domestically produced pharmaceuticals for export? We need dollars to service external debt in 2028; we cannot pay in rupees. Therefore, we must enable exports.

¶ 06 As a Catholic and an MP, I feel strongly about the Easter attacks. Hon. Nizam Kariyappar made a clear disclosure today—we must pay attention. I recall President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s remarks at His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith’s Golden Jubilee: he said the government would have to investigate the government itself. Is that what we heard echoed today? The current Deputy Minister of Defense, who served as Commandant in North Western Province—did he know these matters? The Presidential Commission report clearly states that intelligence services were aware. Some talk of “Sonic” and “Abu Z,” and “Sara”—the report notes their links to military intelligence. The CID has stated that despite knowing, no proper action was taken. If so, the Deputy Minister should resign, or the government should remove him and ensure investigations proceed.

¶ 07 It was also said in this House that Shani Abeysekera and Ravi Seneviratne were sent on leave at the request of the Catholic Church. Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini, speaking on behalf of His Eminence, has stated the Church never requested this. Then what is happening? Are you trying to damage religious harmony by attributing false requests to the Catholic Church? If those officers did wrong, the blame is being shifted to the Church. We are all representatives of the Catholic community. We strongly reject attempts to tarnish the Church. Thank you for the time.