The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member. I welcome this adjournment motion on the Government’s “Prosperous Country – Beautiful Life,” brought by the Opposition. We also needed an opportunity to tell the people what we have done in the past year, especially with the next Budget weeks away.

¶ 02 Hon. Member Gayantha Karunathilleka asked if we remember 1987–1989. If that is his style, I too can ask: will you answer for the 1977 ethnic riots? The 1978 riots? The 1979 Emergency and Prevention of Terrorism Act? The 1982 fraudulent referendum? The July 1983 pogrom? The 1981 burning of the Jaffna Library? If we go down that route, we can debate likewise. The United National Party led the destruction of the country and national unity—that is indisputable. But I will focus on our work this past year.

¶ 03 Before 22 September 2024, before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake took office, we all knew the political, economic, social, and cultural state of the country. People asked whether we would eradicate the entrenched bribery, corruption and fraud, and rescue the country. Especially in the North and East, parents begged us to save their children from the scourge of drugs that had taken root. I can say with satisfaction we have begun to pull the country out of that pit. Not everything is finished, but the country is moving in the right direction.

¶ 04 When we say “76-year curse,” we mean that for 76 years politics belonged to elites—wealthy, landed classes—and others danced to their tune. They gave promises to gather votes. Since last September, political power has passed to ordinary people. This is a government that respects ordinary people and meets their needs and aspirations. Nearly 22 million Sri Lankans will not try to topple this government; rather, by the day they rally around us.

¶ 05 Economically, by 2024 our country could not even open LCs easily; private bank guarantees were demanded; interest rates were high; the rupee was collapsing. We have stabilized the economy and restored confidence. New realities have emerged: diaspora Tamils now feel safe to return; for the first time in decades, we have had no ethnic or religious clashes since last September. We are building a new political culture where ordinary citizens can take part, and we are ending communal divisions that even existed during colonial rule.

¶ 06 We have started accelerating development in the North: rehabilitating KKS (Kurikadduwan) jetty, developing Myliddy fishing harbour, building a cricket ground at Mandaitivu, an international-standard indoor arena, granting house titles to the homeless, and returning civilian lands under military control. We are working to quickly return more lands in Valikamam North and other areas. We are also setting up industrial zones in areas like Iranamadu, Parantan and Mankulam to give youth a reason to stay, generating jobs and confidence.

¶ 07 People who long felt excluded now have faith that this government will not deceive them like past governments did. We will not betray that trust. Thank you.