The Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, today we are discussing the Regulations under the Reciprocal Recognition, Registration and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act, as published in Gazette No. 2429/51, and the inclusion of 53 countries thereunder. If we look at social development broadly, someday the whole world should become a single neighbourhood. Therefore, as a country, not only must we look within, but, because we are connected to the world and because Sri Lankans live abroad, certain legal practices, orders, and regulations accepted internationally must be made applicable here as well. Although our legislative development may not yet be fully aligned with the world, we must adapt to global norms where necessary. In that context, these Regulations have been gazetted.

¶ 02 Many Sri Lankans living abroad used to ask us, “How are things?” We would say, “Good.” But in truth, things were not good, even though we could not say “upset” or “in chaos” to them. Today it is different. If asked now, we can say, “Very good,” because within this administrative framework we have built up, we can openly say “very good.”

¶ 03 This change did not come about by doing nothing. We organize Poya programmes; we hold peraheras in our villages. Similarly, people of other religions conduct their cultural practices—Muslims, Catholics—according to their faiths. We did Vesak and Poson programmes. There were dansals everywhere; it was raining dansals this Poson; you could hardly walk the roads. What does this show? Along with this new administration, our people are living a vibrant cultural life and enjoying that culture. Everyone is living well within it.

¶ 04 When we come to Parliament in the morning, the police at the entrance greet us with “Good Morning.” Earlier too they said “Good Morning,” and we responded the same, but, truthfully, there was no “good morning” in our lives. Now, Hon. Deputy Speaker, when they say “Good Morning,” we can say it back and actually feel that good morning in our lives. Of course, a few here might sour that “good,” but if you look honestly, the spirit of that greeting exists in our real lives today.

¶ 05 We held the State Poson Festival centred at Mihintale. Some thought it was nothing special. But we did it—that is the change. Perhaps the Opposition has not yet felt that change.

¶ 06 What lies behind the victory at the Colombo Municipal Council? Today, all residents within the Colombo Municipal area are able to live their cultural lives freely. You too live in Colombo, Hon. Deputy Speaker; you know people there happily live their cultural life. For the Sinhala New Year, there is no division by ethnicity or religion; everyone celebrates. Likewise, after the Ramadan period, there is no division—Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims in Colombo are invited to iftar meals, and we go. For Christmas too, people in Colombo live that cultural life together. The unity and togetherness exist there. Where does it disappear? With elections. At every election, the few who talk divisively here—with nationalist rhetoric—destroy that cultural life of the people. They divide people, saying, “You belong to us; you must be with us; give your vote to us; to our parties; we represent the underprivileged.” With that, Hon. Deputy Speaker, they dragged Colombo’s cultural life towards ruin. The joy lies in that truth, which the people of Colombo have now understood. That understanding is why, even within the nature of this local authority election, they gave 48 seats to the National People’s Power. And who opposed that? Those who got 29 seats. Hon. Deputy Speaker, I ask you: is 48 greater or 29?

¶ 07 Why then were we limited to 48? I take the Colombo Municipal Council as the example because this is what was discussed. Why were we limited to 48 when we could have had around 60? That is the nature of local elections. According to the culture of our people, they often vote for the candidate from their neighbourhood. Sometimes they do not care about the party; sometimes they prefer independents. That is why so many independent groups appeared and votes were split. If the parties had united and contested together, perhaps they would not have got those votes. Our people value kinship and neighbourhood connections. They think, “Support the person from our area, whatever the party.” This is a local authority election; it is not what decides national politics. No matter what we say, those split votes were not against our movement as such, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

¶ 08 Therefore, a candidate facing a secret ballot knows the conscience of the voter who supported them. The value of the secret ballot lies in that. You cannot manipulate that conscience in an open ballot. That is the difference between an open and a secret ballot. In truth, the secret ballot reflects the real conscience of the voters who cast their votes. Only through a secret ballot can that genuine conscience be represented. This is not a game; it is what lies within the system. The elected representatives’ secret ballot represents the conscience of the people who voted for them. We must understand this. Therefore, we have a duty now. Many things are already being completed. The people have entrusted the country to us—at national level and local level. Let us work for that. I invite everyone to join in.

¶ 09 Question put, and agreed to.