The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, thank you for selecting this topic. If certain organized criminals or drug traffickers receive State patronage, you cannot implement the measures you speak of. If elements within the State itself run or serve selected criminal networks, mere discussion yields nothing. This must be stopped. Intelligence must be strengthened—at sea too—and we must act on international intelligence. You cannot jail former service commanders and intelligence chiefs and then hope to stop organized crime by using your party’s intelligence network.

¶ 02 UNODC and DEA previously sent intelligence to Sri Lanka, yet a certain container was allowed to leave the port. Who authorized it? To date you say you are still searching. Many months have passed: the two containers arrived in December, were let out in January. Now almost a year has passed, and still “searching.” A further 323 containers were released. Where are they? What was the process? Who is responsible? A Minister told media “we know where they are; we will take responsibility.” When asked what if weapons, explosives or drugs were inside, he said, “We will take responsibility for that too.” If you are sincere, act honestly. You said there was an ice factory in Nuwara Eliya; now you say you do not know where.

¶ 03 When I raised the Navy Commander’s arrest, the subject Minister said here it was by court order. But at bail, CID was admonished for wrongful procedure. The Public Security Minister told Parliament it was by court order, yet at bail the narrative changed. People are losing faith when those who ignored Easter attack intelligence are given Government offices. If new intelligence is again ignored, or when a citizen seeks protection in writing from the IGP and nothing is done, how can we speak of national or public security?

¶ 04 The late Chairman wrote to the IGP seeking protection, but no action was taken. Before the inquest, even before confirming death, you came here and claimed “he had cases.” That is not the issue. We must be honest.

¶ 05 A person was killed inside court precincts before a magistrate; a Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman was murdered in his office on public day. You must not allow organized criminals with State protection to operate while arresting a rival group. That is not justice. We support ending the drug menace. We promoted sports and culture to keep youth away from drugs—then you mocked it. Regardless, implement a proper programme, but do not protect organized criminals.

¶ 06 Look at how you enforce the law. On one hand, a person is detained and you tell the media it is about Easter, but his detention orders do not mention Easter. In Midigama, you issued DOs; but a person found with about 850 kg on land was arrested under ordinary law without a DO and lingers for months awaiting analyst reports. You produced an analyst report in 24 hours for Midigama—do that speed for others too. Prisons are overcrowded with many awaiting reports for a year or two.

¶ 07 Some of you attacked us citing a Galle shooting and an Opposition MP’s uncle; first check which party that uncle belonged to before marriage and who he worked for. We will reveal at the right time. Some police officers appointed by your Government are blatantly political—pressuring OICs to name “Namal” or “Gotabaya” to get promotions; urging them to testify against the Navy Commander in exchange for promotions. Meanwhile, how many rehabilitation centres exist? Fewer than 5,000 can be accommodated. What are your plans to expand rehab, provide jobs, and strengthen mental health for recovering youth? Do not politicize this; build capacity.

¶ 08 About Weligama: issues began earlier—claims of abductions that turned out false; a member who said in an audio that “our own side may have done the shooting.” Did you enforce the law then? Ultimately the Chairman was shot in his office on public day. You may choose not to hold public days, but we will. Even if shot at, assaulted or homes torched, we will meet the people.

¶ 09 In nominations, we obtain police reports on our candidates’ links to organized crime or drugs. You should too. Advise your front, middle and back benches and their relatives to stay away from such elements. Most importantly, do not allow organized criminals to operate under State patronage; otherwise this State will again slide into a terror state.