The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda

¶ 01 Thank you for this opportunity, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

¶ 02 At the time these regulations under the Motor Traffic Act are presented, I wish to convey our support for their approval.

¶ 03 As someone who entered politics through action against narcotics, I must raise several unresolved issues I observe in this special Gazette. The regulations do not specify procedures for Police when detaining a driver suspected of driving under the influence of drugs—particularly the time window within which drug testing must occur, nor the chain-of-custody and security of samples. The reliability of test results depends on these. I urge attention to these procedural safeguards.

¶ 04 I also wish to highlight a pressing matter. Employees of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) face a severe employment grievance. Historically, their overtime was tied to the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA). The new salary revisions have removed COLA for overtime calculation, yet COLA is considered when deducting EPF/ETF. This is unfair. Further, the interim allowance added to basic pay after the 2025 revisions has, for SLFEB employees, been cut by Rs. 2,500, and the annual bonus has been significantly reduced. We see these moves as pushing workers towards industrial action. Access of SLFEB officers to diplomatic service postings has also been curtailed; appointments for the Consul post in Singapore and Second Secretary in Israel are pending contrary to established practice and legal opinions. Are these delays intended to appoint politically compliant officers?

¶ 05 On foreign employment, South Korea and Israel have provided life-changing opportunities for many Sri Lankan youth. Under our government in 2004, the EPS programme to Korea was introduced. Recent quotas have reduced: departures were 5,137 (2021), 4,766 (2023), 5,020 (2024), but only 3,595 in 2025. Over 2,500 candidates listed on the EPS website remain without contracts despite passing exams and medicals. Their future hopes are dimming. The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment, and Embassies, appear lethargic. Please intervene.

¶ 06 In the Southern Province, principal transfers in Galle District have been handled unfairly, disregarding ranking and seniority, to favour politically aligned principals. I request the Hon. Minister of Education to inquire.

¶ 07 At the Galle District Secretariat auditorium on 2026-01-06, during the annual progress review, an unprecedented act occurred: Opposition local authority chairmen from Nagoda, Weliwitiya-Divithura, Rathgama, Neluwa, and Bentota were asked to leave, holding a review only with ruling party officials. We strongly protest this suppression of Opposition representation.

¶ 08 Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely. I urge the Government to act with restraint or face political consequences. With those remarks and expressing our support for the regulations, I conclude. Thank you.