The Hon. Anton Jayakody - Deputy Minister of Environment

¶ 01 [11.32 a.m.]

¶ 02 Hon. Deputy Speaker, the Hon. Asitha Niroshan Egoda moved for a debate on the Clean Sri Lanka Programme, and two days were allocated. I first thought two days might be too much; now I believe it is not enough, because the Opposition has not grasped the programme. As Government, we must keep explaining until they do.

¶ 03 The National People’s Power sought a mandate months ago and received a majority endorsement for a plan to make Sri Lanka a prosperous country with beautiful lives, reflected in our 159 MPs. Clean Sri Lanka operationalizes that plan along three pillars: social, environmental and ethical. Government and citizens together must transform the country, with the Environment portfolio bearing much responsibility.

¶ 04 We must assess our environmental balance sheet—e.g., damage from Uma Oya; Oluvil Port built at an unsuitable site without proper site investigation has caused severe coastal erosion and is abandoned; the South Eastern University at Oluvil was twice flooded and is closed. Development by whim has left white elephants. We must clean these legacies and create an environment fit for people and wildlife, producing a clean mind and cultured society.

¶ 05 The previous regimes celebrated frivolities—busing crowds to marvel at harbour floors or to walk expressways—rather than cultivating higher aesthetic and rational faculties. We must build a rational society: one that asks why a snake can slough its skin but not a plastic bottle.

¶ 06 Clean Sri Lanka is not merely garbage clearance; it is a national programme impacting every ministry and sector. The Opposition cherry-picks items and says they do not fit; I ask them to see the whole. It aligns with a production economy: in agriculture we aim to raise paddy yields per hectare from about 6 metric tons upwards. We are laying the groundwork to produce single super phosphate from Eppawala phosphates and, medium-to-long term, to produce urea domestically. Water for agriculture requires restored canals and tanks; tank rehabilitation is part of Clean Sri Lanka. Do not decry tank desilting; increased yields are also within scope.

¶ 07 Coconut prices rose recently; a coconut takes roughly 36–39 months from inflorescence to harvest. When, back then, fertilizer cost Rs. 20,000–30,000 per bag, many did not apply it, contributing to today’s high nut price (up to Rs. 200). We must clean the agri system—restore fertilizer use and under-planting—to stabilize supply.

¶ 08 We also need clean politics. Our President’s oath signaled an example of cleansing politics. Unlike in the past, we have not phoned police to release criminals. Previously, under President Wickremesinghe, notorious businessmen intimidated officials—e.g., with the then Commissioner General of Excise—and later such officials were co-opted. That system must be cleaned. The PUCSL episode under the last Government—where an officer was ousted after recommending tariff action—shows governance that must be cleansed. Clean Sri Lanka spans from toilets and tanks to institutions. If we clean across the board, we can build a prosperous country and a good productive economy with beautiful lives. Thank you.