The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, deconstructing the Opposition’s narrative shows the intent: to delegitimize convictions in Easter cases by calling courts “jungle.” If accused abscond, ex parte proceedings are lawful. I say plainly to the nation: this party now carries the political line of protecting Easter perpetrators. I challenge lawyers, scholars, victims, and His Eminence the Cardinal to see the intent.

¶ 02 Ask honestly: converting ministerial residences into court venues to hear cases daily—does this help victims or harm them? Should Easter cases be heard only once in three months at Aluthkade High Court? I smell the stench of the old demon here—the mastermind and political will behind the attacks. We know the Rajapaksas were responsible.

¶ 03 Do not interrupt me. I speak to the people. The previous debate showed the same pattern—attacking investigators like Shani Abeysekera and Ravi Seneviratne. Now you spread the story globally that “Easter cases are heard in Minister bungalows” without context that they are state properties repurposed for backlog clearance. The intention is to side with the murderers.

¶ 04 I have more to say, but time is short. The medical centre is still open; please take care if agitated. Do not disrupt; otherwise I will move a motion against disruptions. Control your Members.

¶ 05 Globally, democracy, rule of law, and judicial independence rankings show Sri Lanka rising. Yet you call these “jungle courts.” Those are the murderers’ words, not ours.

¶ 06 Politically, when a party cannot improve, it tries to drag opponents down: “if we stole, you stole.” We went to Kandy with the President this morning to inspect the Mahaiyawa tunnel project to ease chronic congestion. Senior engineers said that in 2016 a Chinese company finished a road with Rs. 550 million in savings. The RDA proposed a tunnel using those savings. The then Highways Minister told the company to pay him Rs. 50 million to approve; they refused. Ten years on, we are building that tunnel with state funds. That is the truth about them.

¶ 07 They now target the Speaker, though previous Speakers oversaw disgraceful conduct—board meetings at the Speaker’s residence to push deals; audit reports record this. Laptops disappeared; family trips occurred. Do not assume today’s Speaker is the same—he is honest and diligent.

¶ 08 Their strategy is to say we are all the same. Sorry—we are not, and even after 100 years of trying, you will fail to make us the same. From prison to the Presidency, we have worked cleanly. Tell the people: do not act on lies against this Government.

¶ 09 On education: we do not close faculties; we open them. We defend free education not only in Parliament but in the streets.

¶ 10 I urge the Opposition: strive to be better, more ethical, and win power by merit. Some among you can. Do not belittle Independence Day with petty jabs about photos, saris, or chairs. Substance—not props—gives stature. Our President and Prime Minister have it; acknowledge it.

¶ 11 Your social media strategy claims the Independence ceremony lacked pride; you nitpick appearances. People who lack substance hide behind chairs and sunglasses. We do not.

¶ 12 Respect your opponents; only then will you win the new generation. Your political DNA must change.

¶ 13 On the armed forces: we respect them. But who misused them post-war, tarnishing their international standing? The Rajapaksas, with white vans and political repression. Today’s international criticisms largely concern post-war abuses, not wartime conduct. We are correcting course—auditing and dedicating recovered gold to development funds for the North and East, with lab verification and transparent allocation.

¶ 14 The Opposition speaks with hatred, even to the point of defending Easter killers and calling fast-track venues “jungle courts.” The people have seen your capitulation. I thank the people while concluding my remarks.