The Hon. R.M. Samantha Ranasinghe

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity to speak briefly during this debate on the state of emergency.

¶ 02 First, I felt I must respond to the previous Member. Before we came to Parliament, we saw them on TV and in papers as “great statesmen,” but today they speak with political immaturity below even Montessori level. “The Iranian ship came six days earlier; you didn’t take it.” When a ship belonging to a country engaged in a major war seeks to enter our waters, a mature State will not simply bring it in. Do they not understand that?

¶ 03 What did we then do? When lives were at risk, we intervened to provide humanitarian aid. Hon. Member, think beyond your party and your political future and answer responsibly. In Opposition we were anti-imperialist; today we still are. But we are not childish—jumping at everything. Because of that political maturity, we act as we do.

¶ 04 In our youth, the words “emergency” or “curfew” sent shivers down our spine, because previous governments used emergency laws to oppress ordinary people. I recall emergency in 1971; during Black July 1983; from 2000 to 2009; and in 2022.

¶ 05 During the Aragalaya in 2022, in Rambukkana in my district, when people queued for fuel for days, the then Government called the Police, who shot and killed a youth and injured others. That is how emergency was used then. Near that same shed, even when there was fuel, queues formed recently. We told people there is fuel and we will give it, but due to past experience there was doubt. As a responsible Government, we kept sheds open 24 hours, doubled or tripled bowsers, and restored confidence.

¶ 06 That is how a responsible Government works. We thought the Opposition would come hard today on this debate, but they have nothing coherent—contradicting themselves.

¶ 07 Why is emergency necessary? The Gazette clearly states it is due to Cyclone Ditwah. For example, in my Kegalle District, many cannot return home: Aranayake 333; Mawanella 272; Yatiyantota 2,062; Kegalle 292; Bulathkohupitiya 134; Rambukkana 171; Warakapola 134; Ruwanwella 36; Galigamuwa 62; Deraniyagala 6; Dehiowita 7—altogether 3,756 people. By December 31, 2026, they must be resettled. Land must be found, housing built, water, electricity, schools and health provided. To recover the country we must manage institutions under this framework.

¶ 08 During Yahapalana in 2016, the Sama Sara Kanda landslide in Mawanella–Aranayake displaced many. Seven years later, they still suffer. In Rambukkana, the resettlement village Idellawatta is in raw forest—no electricity, water, or roads. Under this emergency we are coordinating with Defence, allocating funds, clearing the forest, arranging Rs. 4.5 million to bring electricity, and building roads. We use the emergency not only to aid Ditwah victims but also those long-affected.

¶ 09 The Prime Minister asked for one instance of repression under this emergency in the last three to four months—there is none. The Opposition speculates about future struggles. Already there were agitations by Grama Niladharis, GMOA, fishers, and Development Officers—did we use emergency? No. We will not use emergency to crush such actions. People protest for wages and jobs—we are addressing those. Therefore, struggles will not arise.

¶ 10 Hon. Mujibur said they criticize not to topple the Government. In fact, they aim to embarrass Sri Lanka internationally. Following their advice leads nowhere. Without discipline, they target anything. We came to Parliament to understand governance and work fast. Our 159 MPs and our local bodies are working efficiently. The Opposition cannot even grasp its role. You must win people’s hearts; conspiracies cannot sustain governments. When we raise estate workers’ pay by Rs. 200, raise public servants’ salaries, give relief to Ditwah victims—you oppose all that. Frankly, we are glad about this kind of Opposition.

¶ 11 We tell the people: we will use this emergency well—within law and regulation—to deliver wellbeing and rebuild lives, especially of all disaster-affected people. We pledge to intervene to the maximum.

¶ 12 Thank you.