The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.

¶ 02 On the CMC issue raised earlier: even our current President, when in Opposition, called secret ballots a corrupt method. Open voting better reflects transparent democratic choice; secrecy fosters corruption and bargaining.

¶ 03 Turning to today’s Orders under the Foreign Judgments Act: we support the initiative but note gaps. The Orders cover civil and commercial judgments, not criminal matters; it would be useful to consider future frameworks for criminal cooperation as well. Among the 50-plus designated countries, I did not see some of our closest or high‑interaction partners—China, Russia, Japan, Saudi Arabia—while small states like Tuvalu, Nauru, and Sierra Leone are included. Future rounds should consider major partners.

¶ 04 Appeal/objection windows appear narrow; consider reasonable extensions. Also, section on applicability refers to matters where the Minister is “satisfied.” In inter‑state legal cooperation, vague satisfaction standards are not ideal; criteria and limits should be clarified, even if the AG’s advice “may” be sought, it remains at ministerial discretion. Greater specificity would strengthen confidence.

¶ 05 Finally, a separate urgent matter: at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, shift hours have reportedly been extended from eight to nine, and overtime reduced from four to three hours, adversely impacting workers, including security staff. The Government previously championed workers’ rights; I urge intervention to address their grievances.

¶ 06 We support the Orders, hoping they will deliver tangible relief to citizens in civil matters. Thank you.