The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, to a considerable extent, having been defeated in their view, the Opposition is now turning this Parliament upside down, alleging an error by a state official. Let me recall here the talk of “neoliberalism,” then about socialism versus capitalism, and such things. While making various speeches in this august House, they attempt to say that the decision taken by that state official was wrong. I have a simple question.

¶ 02 Yesterday, on Derana TV’s “Waada Pitiya” programme, Hon. Ajith P. Perera appeared. The same position he took there is what Hon. Mujibur Rahuman read here like a script. We ask one thing. They are relying on a set of regulations. The state official is referring to the Act, while they are talking about the regulations. They keep saying repeatedly that action was taken contrary to the regulations. The Opposition has time in this debate. We challenge them on one point. What does Section 48A(6) of the Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Act, No. 22 of 2012, say regarding the conduct of an open or secret ballot? What you are citing is merely a regulation. Show me where in that set of regulations the pre-meeting poll must be taken openly. Show where the word “open” appears in that set. This is a challenge. Will the Opposition accept it? Is the word “open” stated there? In fact, what the Act provides is that for the election of the Mayor or Chairman, an open or secret ballot may be held. Hon. Deputy Speaker, other instances are not described in the Act. Where the Act is silent, the discretion goes to the relevant official.

¶ 03 It is that official decision that is now being challenged. The Colombo Municipal Council is the basis they take. The challenge was cancelled. What was the challenge? It was withdrawn. A member of Hon. Sajith Premadasa’s own party consented and went for the vote. Then, what legal action can you take? It was done voluntarily. That is democracy. Hon. Ajith P. Perera says names must be written down. But there is no such thing. At the Colombo Municipal Council, during the secret ballot, all 117 members were asked to mark their ballots with their names written on them. Only when the count was done did they see that their tally of 62 had become 54, and our tally became 61. Then they got angry, came to this august House and scolded the Speaker, even boycotted a sitting. After a day of boycotting, thinking they could save face, they returned here. Alas! While they come and sit here, the Kolonnawa Municipal Council had already been won. Who voted? A member of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya itself. Then they called it “wolves in sheep’s clothing” and so on.

¶ 04 Hon. Deputy Speaker, just as some parents abandon their children when they cannot look after them—or because of mistakes parents make—so too some councillors left. There is nothing to be done about that; seeking their own good, people sometimes make such decisions. These are the errors of the “parents.” When they cannot look after their “children” – their councillors – they leave. Why did councillors at the Colombo Municipal Council leave like that? Because there is a complaint before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption against their mayoral candidate. Therefore, some councillors, following their conscience, could not vote for him. They told us openly that they could never make a corrupt individual the Mayor. What has happened now in Kolonnawa? When the top-polling candidate asked for the Mayorship, he was set aside and it was given to someone from the list. I saw that that councillor had expressed views on this. What did he say? “I am the suitable one. There is no place for the suitable within this party. Therefore, I have decided to go to someone with a conscience,” he said, Hon. Deputy Speaker. Accordingly, he expressed support to the National People’s Power.

¶ 05 They now call them “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” saying all sorts of things. The wave from the Colombo Municipal Council has reportedly reached Kolonnawa; Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council has also been won. Then where did they toss the coin? They tossed at Dehiovita and Medagama. Hon. Deputy Speaker, now they will surely create an argument that there is a problem with the coin that was tossed at Dehiovita and Medagama. Hon. Deputy Speaker, now the tide has turned in favour of the National People’s Power. Every toss came to us. The National People’s Power is a fortunate political movement. When you fight against injustice and unfairness, even nature aligns with that movement. Even when tossing the coin, it turns to our side. So, do not try to bully the officials.

¶ 06 We saw speeches being repeated here about secret and open ballots. They are now trying to find out where that public official went to school, where that Commissioner studied, and saying, “We know what is written in her profile.” They are digging up such things. Hon. Deputy Speaker, she herself conducted, very clearly, the vote at the Kolonnawa Municipal Council. What happened? In a very democratic manner she intervened; they walked out of the chamber; one who is answerable to his conscience remained; that is the vote; the National People’s Power won. Then why blame the Commissioner? The Commissioner is carrying out a constitutional function; acting under the law; nothing else. If you try to intimidate an official when implementing the law, what does that amount to? Therefore, Hon. Deputy Speaker, I state specifically: no public servant should be afraid to carry out their constitutional duties. None should fear. As a Government, we protect the public service; we must protect it. The Opposition is now trying to spread a narrative that they will take revenge. They talk about the Government toppling not in the next year but in ten years, and then taking legal action against the Commissioner. What a pity! Let me tell you frankly: you cannot be better than us. The people’s mandate contains one thing: to punish the corrupt. Now that institutions are independent and active, what happens? The corrupt are terrified and now seek short-term ways to topple our Government.

¶ 07 They keep calculating: the percentage at the presidential election is this much; at the parliamentary election it is that much; it has gone down this much; then how much more, and so on. Hon. Sajith said they would take power by December. Keep doing your sums. We have already begun the work of rebuilding this country. Therefore, once the National People’s Power became a stable Government, the Opposition is gasping for breath. Hence they rant about “wolves in sheep’s clothing.” After the secret ballot at the Colombo Municipal Council turned 62 to 54, what did they say? “Black sheep.”

¶ 08 So, when they are not in your party, they become black sheep. Today they make scattered remarks about socialism and capitalism. The Opposition, dejected by defeat, has nothing to hold on to and cannot even keep its team together. In such a situation, we will necessarily take steps to protect the state mechanism and public officials. We assure here that we will protect the public officials who perform constitutional duties.