The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, today’s debate is to review, after one year, whether the policy statement “A Prosperous Country - A Beautiful Life” has been implemented. Under it, there are many headings—good governance, rule of law, democracy, equality, reconciliation, social justice, people-centric governance. The people are ready to see a prosperous country and a beautiful life. But have we truly attained a beautiful life? We must consider this since Independence.

¶ 02 Many governments have ruled since 1948. Because of the communal, religious and fundamentalist policies those governments followed, achieving a beautiful life has been difficult. This government, newly in power, aspires to create a beautiful life—but it is hard. Food, clothing and shelter are essential. Today, do people receive food at fair prices? Are their houses proper? Can they obtain clothing at reasonable prices? We are not saying this government should have completed all this within a year, but we must see whether the foundation or starting point has been laid.

¶ 03 We must acknowledge good things as good. We appreciate actions to clean this country: curbing drug use, arresting underworld gang members and taking legal action, and taking action against those involved in corruption and fraud. These are good things. The President has said there is a “black kingdom” in this country. There is an illegal black state operating here, including those in white collars. Recently, Sri Lankans involved with narcotics were brought back from Indonesia, and arrests followed domestically. Who runs these underworld gangs? Who is the mastermind of the Easter bombings? We must find them. Catching tails and feet alone will not end this; those who run these operations exist, with double faces—one legal and one illegal. Only when such people are arrested and prosecuted properly under the law can we create a beautiful life.

¶ 04 There are indications a narcotics manufacturing facility exists in this country—based on seizures in Muthurajawela. To clean this country, those involved in drugs, their trade, and underworld networks must be arrested. We welcome this. At the same time, have those tied to corruption, fraud and the black state been completely removed from this government? Some corrupt politicians who amassed billions through fraud may have been rejected by the people at the last election, but certain officials still cling on. Such officials must also be arrested. Inquiries are ongoing and reports are coming, but some are acting to protect them by not implementing report recommendations.