The Hon. Presiding Member

¶ 01 Hon. Members, I draw your attention to this matter as well. In this rush and urgency, let us treat this election that is being hurriedly held in this manner as the last one to be conducted this way. Before the next election, we must bring a Bill to this Parliament to re-operationalize the 1987 Provincial Councils Act. If by the time of the next local authorities election we can move in that direction, I believe it will be beneficial to the country’s politics.

¶ 02 As we proceed to hold this election, we had to face several other issues.

¶ 03 Especially in the public service, many who were passionate about politics and who had the desire to do something for their village through the political process handed in nominations. However, they had to undergo severe mental distress because the election was not held. They did not receive salaries for the leave taken during that period related to the election. Thereafter, after much discussion in Parliament and with great difficulty obtaining Cabinet approval, arrangements were made to reinstate them in service. Even then, many were compelled to take up posts outside their home divisions. Because of that too, they went through significant mental stress. Therefore, some measure of fairness must be afforded to them. It should not be that now we simply announce that an election will be held and move on, without addressing this. They suffered injustice and economic loss, and they endured mental distress. Attention should be paid to these matters and, if possible, some fair redress should be provided to those public officers who came forward to serve their village and region through the local authority elections but were denied that opportunity.

¶ 04 Also, as our Hon. Minister who spoke earlier said, there is a story that we are now pleading out of fear of this election. As the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, we are not afraid of this election at all. If in 2023 Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe had not engaged in that improper course and instead held the election, there would not be so many of your Members sitting on those benches today. Had that election been held then, today’s configuration would be very different. By not holding that election, Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe in fact helped you and gave you his fullest support. With that support, do not now turn your back on him; correct what was done then. We know very well what would have happened if that election had been held. Whatever stories you tell here today, that was the practical situation at village level. Therefore we are not afraid of elections. We are with the people. We have not lied to the people. We have told them the truth. We have not deceived the people with hype. You did all of that and are now at a stage where you cannot defend it. But we will go before the people upright.

¶ 05 You presented your maiden Budget—the first Budget of the so-called era of revival. You called it the first fortunate Budget after a 70-year curse. Look at the string of reliefs you offered the people through this Budget. Public servants are already sending us information asking what the real benefit to their salaries is. Therefore, taking all these matters together, come to the village. People are watching. The people have learned lessons. They used to look up and blame others; now they have taken matters into their own hands.

¶ 06 A majority in this country now understand that political power should be given this time to a camp that has not held power before, admitting that they were misled by lies and waves of hype. Many intelligent citizens say they were duped by false promises and fairy-tales, and now hope to correct that mistake. If you want to afford that opportunity to the people, bring elections at any time. However, practically, holding an election at this very moment has challenges: our MPs are in Parliament for the Budget debate; in our areas harvests are underway; the G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination is also scheduled. Therefore, we should manage these practical issues and act appropriately at this time. We tell the Election Commission to fix dates not to suit the whims of different political parties, but with a proper understanding of the country’s real situation. On any date, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya will be ready. With that, I conclude my remarks.

¶ 07 Thank you very much.

¶ 08 Question put, and agreed to.