The Hon. Fasmin Sharif

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you. I will be brief. On SLADA and narcotics: Sri Lanka produces many athletes who compete clean and bring pride. We recall Marion Jones of the USA who won many medals but later admitted to doping and was stripped of medals. If a Sri Lankan athlete wins by doping, proper testing will strip titles and tarnish the nation, and deprive clean athletes of opportunity. This law exists to prevent that.

¶ 02 We also bring tax laws to develop the nation, its reputation and society. Recently there was much talk about AI. Watching the Opposition Leader’s speech at the canteen, I wondered if it was him or an AI creation. On Gammanpila’s book launch about Easter Sunday—where the Opposition Leader attended—some claim images were AI. Many minorities once trusted the Opposition Leader, but that trust has shifted to the President, who intervened to rescue Muslim sailors on an Iranian vessel attacked when no other world leader stepped in; global media such as BBC and Al Jazeera hailed him.

¶ 03 Those who spread communalism must answer: when a Colombo District SJB MP was labelled “ISIS MP,” where did the Opposition Leader stand—by the Muslim MP or by Gammanpila? The Easter attack was a dark day, with Muslims suffering heavily. Are you trying to rise on communalism as in the past?

¶ 04 On fuel: the global crisis persists through the Hormuz Strait. Our Government reduced petrol by Rs. 20 and diesel by Rs. 100 to provide relief, while prices in Pakistan and even Mumbai are very high. We are not producers. We acted quickly.

¶ 05 On the cyclone: for partially damaged houses we gave Rs. 500,000; for fully damaged we have pledged Rs. 5 million and will provide it. Previously only Rs. 1.6 million was given; we are giving three to four times more, including land.

¶ 06 Time is up, I understand.

¶ 07 To the Opposition: ours is a Government to serve the people, with no communal or religious bigotry. I wish for a country free of communalism, and extend greetings to all who observed Ramadan and will celebrate Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Thank you.