The Hon. Fasmin Sharif

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member. Many in the current Opposition who entered politics after 1978 were central to fraud and corruption. Today a Member even accused our Minister Lal Kantha over “wild boar” permits; those in Colombo do not know the hardships of poor rural families. He worked to solve such issues.

¶ 02 Someone said the Minister of Justice wears a jumper; our Ministers never wear jumpsuits for wrongdoing. Those making such jibes themselves wore jumpsuits before. We do not interfere in such matters.

¶ 03 On the Carrom Board case: Nalin Fernando, former Minister, was sentenced to 25 years; Mahindananda Aluthgamage to 20 years over Rs. 53 million fraud. If our Government were not in office, those cases might have been derailed on technicalities. We will neither commit nor permit fraud. Regarding the Colombo schoolgirl’s death and allegations against an organizer: even if we are Ministers, anyone who commits wrongdoing will be punished; the Opposition should not doubt this.

¶ 04 In Tamil, I add: Many Opposition politicians after 1978 entered politics to engage in corruption, aided by pliant officials. Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was freed from many cases on “technical faults.” His brother remains abroad avoiding proceedings. They have never submitted to the law. One who smeared us earlier publicly begged Ranil Wickremesinghe for a vehicle permit; it circulated on media. Mahindananda Aluthgamage defrauded fertilizer imports meant for farmers and also in the carrom board procurement. During a medicine shortage, Keheliya Rambukwella imported substandard drugs, harming patients. Our Government will ensure punishments.

¶ 05 In Kandy–Digana–Aluthgama, communal violence victims must get justice; appoint a commission to investigate all who spread racist propaganda so such incidents never recur. Some Muslim MPs now weep crocodile tears; those who ignored injustice to Thajudeen now speak for Palestine. I note: in 2006, Hon. Bimal Rathnayake was associated with the Sri Lanka–Palestine Friendship; now Hon. (Dr.) H. Sunil Senevi, Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, is its head. All Sri Lankan Muslims stand with Palestine; our Government stands with Palestinians while never supporting terrorism, and will serve the people. The President is sympathetic to Muslims and carries out development without party bias, serving all Sri Lankans.

¶ 06 In Kandy’s Gampola–Ambuluwawa area, all revenues go to the D.M.U. Jayaratne Foundation; past development funds of Gampola were used there. We will seek to bring it under Government responsibility so benefits flow to the Treasury/public. In Gampola, a former Deputy Mayor built a house across a drainage canal; flooding results. Despite my requests, officials do not act due to political interference. We will find solutions to such issues.

¶ 07 Thank you.