The Hon. M.K.M. Aslam

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Deputy Chairperson.

¶ 02 Today we debate regulations under the 2024 Public Debt Management Act. In the past, governments obtained varied loans without proper frameworks, enabling corruption and fraud. With international support and advice, we enacted the 2024 Public Debt Management Act to establish two key institutions: the Public Debt Management Office and the Public Debt Coordinating Committee, which will set criteria and discipline debt operations. Just as a bank assesses servicing capacity before granting a loan, the State must ensure debt is invested productively to raise income or deliver services. Too often it was not—examples include the Sooriyawewa International Cricket Stadium and Hambantota International Conference Hall, which did not generate returns.

¶ 03 Hence, as a responsible Government, we are instituting clear rules and regulations. This is also an opportunity for the NPP Government to fulfill its promises.

¶ 04 On yesterday’s hartal: our Tamil community decisively rejected it. Former MP Sumanthiran tried in Jaffna and then went to Vavuniya—he returned battered. The ITAK organized this, yet their own MP Sridharan declared it over by 10 a.m. In Jaffna and Batticaloa, some Mayors abused office by coercing traders to close, threatening licence cancellations. Some Muslim traders, fearing reprisals or because shops were in Tamil landlords’ names, also closed. But many trade leaders resisted.

¶ 05 It has been said Sri Lanka Muslim Congress supported it; I do not understand why. Hon. Mano Ganesan and Hon. Jeevan too supported it; was it for a noble cause or to address a great injustice? The people, however, responded wisely: Tamil people sidelined ITAK; Muslim people sidelined SLMC; others sidelined their parties. Even an SLMC ally did not support it, and several upcountry parties declined. This shows these parties are losing relevance as the NPP grows.

¶ 06 Our Ministers, like Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, have consistently opposed racism and will not allow it to raise its head. This Government has not violated the rights of Tamils or Muslims; no one can prove otherwise. We are enacting legal reforms and development programmes; the North and East, including Jaffna, are progressing rapidly; people feel safer and happier. Such hartals will not recur. Ironically, we must thank those who organized it, because the outcome clearly demonstrated the Government’s strength.

¶ 07 Thank you.