The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, Minister Harshana Nanayakkara claimed the Opposition speaks untruths. Let me present facts and you may respond.

¶ 02 Emergency should mean national security is at the highest state of readiness. Yet, an American submarine entered our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and a torpedo attack—identified as a Mark-48 heavyweight torpedo—was launched on the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena (a Moudge-class frigate). If our national security is at its peak, do we not have surface radars, sonobuoys, underwater sonar networks, towed sonar, or satellite surveillance to detect a submarine 40 nautical miles off our coast within our EEZ? After the incident, the Defence Ministry said it could not confirm whether such an event occurred—revealing the state of our security.

¶ 03 You say 208 were rescued—and we are grateful. But over 130 perished first. If that ship had been within 12 nautical miles—our territorial sea—those 130 lives might have been saved. What diplomatic steps have you taken through our missions regarding a hostile act within our EEZ?

¶ 04 You earlier said the Strait of Hormuz would not be closed; but it has been. That will raise fuel prices by double-digit percentages. The US has temporarily paused sanctions for 30 days to allow India to buy oil from Russia. Send delegations immediately to India and Russia to secure our fuel needs within this window. Have you already done so?

¶ 05 With Hormuz closed, the next routing is via the Cape of Good Hope—adding weeks and cost. The Mediterranean Shipping Company has imposed war risk surcharges on Indian Ocean lanes. Fuel, LPG, LNG, imported medicines, and food prices will rise. What is your plan?

¶ 06 Tourism will suffer as Emirates, Qatar Airways, and SriLankan face constraints. Our Ceylon Tea exports will be affected. What measures are you taking?

¶ 07 The torpedo strike has caused major marine environmental damage—massive acoustic shock on the seabed; impacts such as barotrauma and echolocation disruption to whales and dolphins important to tourism; oil sheens from diesel and jet fuel. Unexploded munitions may remain. What are you doing—through MEPA, the Environment Ministry, and defence agencies—to address this, to avoid another New Diamond or X-Press Pearl?

¶ 08 Over 10 lakh Sri Lankan migrant workers are in the Middle East, remitting USD 8.2 billion. If their livelihoods are threatened, what steps will you take—for their safety and to cushion the impacts on the balance of payments, inflation, and growth?

¶ 09 All this is occurring while emergency is in force. If national security is truly “at the highest level,” tell us: was the submarine a ballistic missile (Ohio-class), guided-missile, or attack submarine—Los Angeles, Seawolf, or Virginia class? If there is no issue, present facts to Parliament. You don’t have the knowledge or awareness; instead you keep blaming the Opposition, saying emergency is to protect the grid and ensure uninterrupted power. Yet with ten cargoes of low-grade coal, you have jeopardized both security and the economy—gross calorific value shows inferior coal that reduces plant output, while you raise electricity tariffs and burden 7.5 million consumers. This is the abuse you carry out under emergency cover.

¶ 10 Also look at the risk to LNG and LPG if Qatar halts supplies. Stop saying “nothing will happen; everything is fine.” Provide practical solutions for the country.

¶ 11 Thank you.