The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law - Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, today’s debate concerns extending the state of emergency. The President seeks extension for two reasons: to enable the Commissioner-General of Essential Services to act on matters related to the Ditwah cyclone; and due to the present global situation. The Government had no inherent desire to extend emergency, but prevailing circumstances necessitate it.

¶ 02 Many countries now face a warlike environment, and Sri Lanka had to intervene on humanitarian grounds. We seek time-bound emergency only for these reasons. The Opposition has joined the debate; as usual, some call for a Division. They allege misuse of emergency, but have presented not a single substantiated example within this Chamber. I will cite their own statements.

¶ 03 We are, regrettably, spectators to a terrifying global process, unable to predict when and how it ends or where it flares. We cannot foresee who becomes victims. Even if we think we are mere observers, we do not know when and how we might be drawn into the picture. The recent “IRIS” vessel incident off Galle is a clear example. We possess a vast maritime zone. That incident occurred within an area where we have obligations of search-and-rescue and investigation. Rescuing the distressed and conducting inquiry is a duty under international maritime law and a humanitarian task; it is not taking sides in war. In such uncertainty, we need the emergency to be prepared. We cannot predict when responsibilities like urgent medical admissions to Karapitiya arise, nor their impact.

¶ 04 The Caspian, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Arabian Sea, Iraq, Türkiye, Armenia, Azerbaijan – all are affected by this war temperature. Likewise Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and even, thousands of miles away, Karapitiya Hospital could be filled with war casualties. Therefore, we must be ready, take preventive measures, and equip ourselves legally. It will not give us an Iron Dome, but it allows us to be as prepared as possible.

¶ 05 Now, what does the Opposition bring? The Leader of the Opposition asks why, with so much information, our Defence Council did not see the attacking submarine. Yet his own Cabinet had full intelligence before Easter Sunday and still plunged the nation into catastrophe. Another MP claims two American aircraft loitered in our zone without disclosure; another says the distressed ship had been informing us for six days and we failed to act. These claims are baseless.

¶ 06 Another MP, a lawyer, first said 300 “children” were trapped on the ship; a few hours later he ran back and said he meant “naval ratings” by “children.” Such fabrications are the norm: earlier he falsely accused Hon. Shantha Padma Kumara of cannabis dealings, which collapsed in 24 hours. Another MP waved a supposed bank account of the Energy Minister’s relative and then fled when asked for details.

¶ 07 One MP demanded to see regulations here in the Chamber. The Secretary-General affirmed the practice: Gazettes are tabled; regulations are not physically tabled in debate to extend emergency. This debate is on extension; the emergency regulations were already gazetted.

¶ 08 They also claimed we condemned attacks only via a newspaper ad. The President addressed the nation last night, stating our position clearly: we are independent, humanitarian and neutral, and we intervened accordingly. If we had brought the ship six days earlier, that would have been folly. The Government has acted with maturity; the Opposition’s jealousy is evident.

¶ 09 On the release of Ibrahim: check your facts. On 25 May 2022, it was your side’s leadership that enabled his release.

¶ 10 In conclusion, we require this extension. For two days the Opposition could not show a single instance of acting outside the emergency regulations. The National People’s Power Government is handling these matters with maturity: Ditwah recovery and the post-war situation are being managed properly. Therefore, this emergency should be extended for a limited time.

¶ 11 Thank you.