The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition

¶ 01 Madam Deputy Chairperson, the Government claims exemplary disaster management: national mechanisms, a Presidential Task Force, housing and livelihood support, infrastructure, prudent fund management, and nine committees. I ask the Prime Minister directly: Do you need Emergency Law to pay Rs. 25,000? To pay Rs. 50,000? To compensate crop losses? To pay Rs. 5 million or Rs. 10 million per death? To provide Rs. 1 million per household? If emergency is needed for routine relief, then we might as well run the State under emergency 365 days a year.

¶ 02 What should have been done? Amend the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act, establish a dedicated Ministry of Disaster Management, and strengthen NBRO, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, and the Department of Meteorology. Officials served admirably, but the Government failed to properly use the existing Act. Under Section 11, a disaster could have been declared; under Section 12 the necessary actions could follow—no need for emergency.

¶ 03 The Government should also have urgently engaged the IMF to renegotiate the program. From 2028 onwards, annual external debt service will be around USD 4 billion; without adjustments this is untenable. The World Bank’s GRADE report is a rapid estimate—not a final comprehensive assessment; real damage likely exceeds USD 4.1 billion. Convene an international pledging conference without delay.

¶ 04 Instead, you use Emergency and existing laws to jail members of the Maha Sangha, while our Constitution recognizes a special place for Buddhism along with protection for other faiths. Reports indicate conditions on monks’ bail applications were tied to withdrawing FR petitions against police—this violates fundamental rights.

¶ 05 On national security, where are the masterminds of the Easter attacks? How many times has His Eminence the Cardinal been misled?

¶ 06 On education reforms: was a pornographic website link included in the Grade 6 English module or not? The President’s own statement cites problems in module preparation, teacher training and technical issues, deferring Grade 6 rollout to 2027. The Prime Minister’s version contradicts the President. We oppose the obscenity, not reforms per se. If Government Members have the courage, say on record that including such a link was acceptable.

¶ 07 Why is ICT not included from Grade 1 in English medium to build a digital Sri Lanka? Global standards (K–12) integrate ICT from kindergarten; at least Grades 1–5 should begin ICT with English focus.

¶ 08 Finally, does one need Emergency Law to pay Rs. 1 million for a roof loss? No. This extension is about continuing an anti-democratic, repressive approach. Repeal the promised Anti-Terrorism Bill in its current form, and bring a national security law that meets international standards and safeguards human rights and fundamental freedoms.

¶ 09 Thank you.