The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, thank you for the opportunity.

¶ 02 Today we consider the Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill and several other Orders and Rules. I listened to the Hon. Deputy Minister, who spoke also about Port City. This is right: Port City is our economic nerve centre, initiated under our Government when I was the subject Minister. It is a very good project.

¶ 03 However, I must remind the Minister: when building Port City, you said even Sigiriya had to be cut—you did say so. Yet Sigiriya stands unharmed, and Port City is built. When bringing investors to Port City, if you keep a chairman like Harsha Amerasekera there, you will struggle to bring investors. You seek harmony as a Government, but you appoint certain outsiders who may be suited to courts, not to engaging investors. If you grill an investor like in a cross-examination, will they come? Appoint someone who understands business, a person from the business world. You have capable business people—appoint one of them.

¶ 04 On the Middle East war, we all feel its bitterness. I said in Parliament then that what President Trump did was wrong—joining Israel to strike Iran—behaving like a village thug. Now what can I say? In America they do not elect a madman President; they elect a good man. But if he becomes unhinged after election, there is no easy way to remove him. Even if doctors said he was unstable, he might even harm the doctors. Because of his madness we face this situation. We suffer this not because of anything else, but those mad actions. When we criticized Trump, some mocked us. But Parliament must discuss global politics and the world situation.

¶ 05 We remember the Aragalaya at the Presidential Secretariat grounds, people camping for months shouting “Gota, go home!” Ultimately they sent him home. At that time, rice was Rs. 190 per kilo. Today Keeri Samba is around Rs. 400. Sugar then was Rs. 120; today Rs. 240. Dhal then Rs. 190; today Rs. 360. Green gram then Rs. 300; today around Rs. 1,000. A 400g milk powder pack then Rs. 330; today Rs. 1,150. Gas then Rs. 2,982; today after New Year gifts, Rs. 4,765.

¶ 06 People expected relief when they ousted that Government, to be freed from their kitchen burdens borne by women. Instead, we got something worse—like exchanging a cracked pot for a broken one. The Lankadeepa on Saturday, 4 April 2026, reports: 33% of the population lacks proper meals; a severe jobs crisis over the next decade; seven out of ten youth lack good jobs; Sri Lanka’s electricity bill is among the highest in Asia.

¶ 07 Was this the “Prosperous Country – Beautiful Life” we wanted? To measure the Government’s popularity there is one way: hold Provincial Council elections. Then you will know where you stand. Governments come and go; none lasts forever. People now face great hardship, while you make grand speeches.

¶ 08 I saw your leaders saying: because of the power crisis, do at night what you do in the day; another says wash clothes only once a week; another MP says thanks to QR for fuel, people have more money and call to thank at night! Prices have risen; people are suffering—please stop such foolish jokes. This is not the time.

¶ 09 Sinhala New Year is coming. We do not know how much diesel or petrol will rise. When fuel rises, everything rises. Public servants will get their salary and then have to stretch to May. Can they celebrate New Year? People’s household economies have collapsed.

¶ 10 The President spoke here; we appreciate the relief measures announced. He said Rs. 150,000 assistance per multi-day fishing voyage because those vessels bring in larger catches. Earlier, Rs. 25,000 per trip was given; at most one or two trips were paid, and then nothing. I ask the Fisheries Minister to table documents showing whether assistance was given continuously—to multi-day vessels at Tangalle, Beruwala, Negombo, etc. You cannot. Today a multi-day trip costs about Rs. 3.5 million, of which Rs. 2 million is diesel. Fisherfolk are in dire straits. Please fulfill your responsibility; otherwise people will become extremely vulnerable.

¶ 11 Fish prices are such that people tremble on hearing them. This crisis hits as New Year approaches. Some innocent people have sold their houses and placed fixed deposits, from which 10% is being deducted from interest. Think about this.

¶ 12 Hon. Member, your time is over.

¶ 13 Please grant me one more minute.

¶ 14 We must protect local businesses. Do not strangle them with taxes. Customs raids swoop in and seize laptops from some business premises as if they are thieves. These are not thieves—they contribute to our economy. Treat them properly. Especially reduce the burden on people this Sinhala New Year. Thank you.