The Hon. R. M. Gamini Rathnayake

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, over these two days we have debated the Clean Sri Lanka programme, the principal policy and action framework the National People’s Power Government began at the very start of the new year. It is clear even now that the Opposition has not understood its true nature. Like the blind man grasping part of the elephant, the Opposition picks one piece and generalizes.

¶ 02 Let me explain for the Opposition the objectives, actions and policy. On 14 November, the people gave a mandate to set the country on a new path. The people said with one voice: clean the Diyawanna, clean Parliament. Accordingly, by the highest proportional mandate ever, the people entrusted governance to the National People’s Power on 14 November—now two months ago. The people have fulfilled their duty; many of you now sit in Opposition.

¶ 03 Why did the people give NPP a strong majority? Not for anything else, but to bequeath a prosperous country and a decent life. To do so requires necessary economic actions and interventions. But have the people truly received a better life already? No. Statistics show otherwise: in 2023, 759 grave crimes against women were recorded; 9,436 serious crimes against children; other child-related offences 1,714. UN data from 2017 said nearly 90 per cent of women using public transport had experienced at least one instance of sexual harassment. For persons with disabilities—1.6 million—the societal attitudes and conditions they face are troubling.

¶ 04 We need to change this. We must create a more humane, compassionate, respectful society, with cultural systems that value people. Clean Sri Lanka is fundamentally about that: three pillars—social upliftment toward a more humane society; environmental protection that respects flora, fauna and nature; and ethical development—moral development within us.

¶ 05 Our political culture was filthy and foul-smelling. We are changing that. In just four months, we have set a new example: we ended nepotism; stopped appointing relatives to Cabinets, to Presidential, Prime Ministerial and Deputy Ministers’ personal staffs; stopped nepotistic appointments as Ambassadors; made appointments on ability and merit. If this had been done earlier, many of those now in the front Opposition benches would not be there.

¶ 06 We have shown we can change this political culture. People said we had only three per cent and could not come to power. We showed that three per cent can become 42, and 42 can become 62. Likewise, we will certainly fulfill the promises and people’s aspirations. I conclude.