The Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, an SJB MP alleged our party acts with hostility, using symbols of violence. Let me state: after winning the Presidential Election on 21 September and the General Election on 14 November, the National People’s Power (NPP) achieved two historic victories without post‑election violence. Those who once oversaw Black July, burned the Jaffna Library, stripped civic rights, and weaponized the police now accuse us of hatred. We harbour no hatred or envy. Our issue is with those who amassed wealth stolen from the people; many cases are pending against such corrupt politicians.

¶ 02 They say the Opposition met yesterday. We have no problem with the Opposition meeting. But in past crises—floods, crop losses, tornadoes, deaths by elephant attacks, shortages of rice, coconut, salt—did they ever sit together to find solutions? Now they huddle, not for the people’s issues, but because the law is finally acting against corruption.

¶ 03 We just marked the 77th Independence Day. Foreign domination lasted centuries. Our national struggles—the Uva‑Wellassa uprising (1818), the Matale rebellion (1848)—ended in defeat amid internal betrayal. The third great struggle was our democratic victory on 21 September 2024 with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Today again, attempts are made to undermine this people’s mandate through baseless claims of “deals” with businessmen—echoes of past betrayals.

¶ 04 We are debating GIs, and even GIs were tainted by past corruption. Names of districts evoke products and also scandals—Malwana no longer only recalls rambutan but also a palace without an owner; Kalutara not only mangosteen but a politician who grabbed public property; Badulla not only a holy site but an MP who humiliated a teacher. Those practices will not continue. We, 159 MPs, will conduct Parliament with integrity. We are not thieves or murderers. We will not fear those who once forced teachers to kneel, killed Tajudeen, broke limbs of Poddala Jayantha, abducted Keith Noyahr, robbed the Central Bank, and enabled the Easter attacks. No more.

¶ 05 We stand firm with the expectations of the people.