The Hon. Sajith Premadasa

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I also wish to ask clearly about the Government representative who boasted, “Bring a stool and a table; I will give tuition on national security.” Where are they now? They spoke loudly on national security, yet today the freedoms of the civil populace have been eroded. The right to life is in jeopardy, not for any reason other than the Government allowing the underworld to foster depravity and a murder culture. The Government must accept responsibility.

¶ 02 We have never condoned murder politics, underworld politics, or drug politics, nor have we walked that path. Yet now attempts are being made to portray that our politics operates through such gangs. We categorically reject that. We will exert maximum effort to eradicate this murder culture; if the Government has the backbone to reform the laws and defeat, within the legal framework, those groups spreading depravity, we will support every such effort.

¶ 03 However, the Government bears direct responsibility for the death of the Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman. They cannot evade this. While we will extend maximum strength to suppress underworld, drug and killer gangs, we also strongly condemn any attempt to use that suppression as a pretext to suppress the Opposition. Furthermore, opposition MPs’ personal security has been withdrawn. We have informed the IGP and relevant authorities to provide necessary protection so MPs and local representatives can perform their public duties. There has been no response. Please inform the House what measures will be taken to ensure the safety of 22 million civilians and their representatives. Thank you.