The Hon. Ajantha Gammeddage

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, the motion brought today by Hon. Dharmapriya Wijesinghe at the adjournment is intended to give strength to and create a discourse in Parliament for the exercise to eliminate dangerous drugs and organized crime. But we just heard a Member speak in a very shameful manner. When bringing such a motion, we should strengthen the Minister responsible for public security. Yet that Member said the Minister should be removed. We see the double standard: they think the country is now being set right, and to disrupt it the Minister must be removed, so they attempt to shape that narrative. We say: we have 159 MPs not idly standing by, but to strengthen the people just as we strengthen the Minister.

¶ 02 Therefore, we tell that Member: do not speak irresponsibly. We know their history; the people have taught them lessons. Do not make such statements here. We listen fairly to some Opposition proposals, but we will not allow such trash talk in this House.

¶ 03 I must note with sorrow the killing of the Chairman of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha in Matara District. We know the police can catch any criminal and trace them. We believe the police will intervene and bring these criminals before the law.

¶ 04 The Opposition today baselessly accuses the government, saying we are behind it to topple the government. We say the history of killings lies with the Opposition’s main parties. Those who nurtured the underworld then now represent the Opposition’s main parties, and they must be held accountable for the killings in 1988-89 and thereafter. We state that those involved in these crimes will be brought before the law and duly punished. That is why this government was appointed. People love this government—from the Hon. President to the Prime Minister, Cabinet, State Ministers, and MPs—because of that. We can go anywhere without fear because we have wronged no one; we entered politics to make this country a better place, and the mandate was given for that.

¶ 05 We will complete this exercise successfully. There is a saying: any task must be done somehow; if not possible, do it in any way. Therefore, we will stop the drug trade somehow. We will overcome obstacles, create the necessary public wall, and from the 30th we begin that programme. We inform the Opposition that the people will rally.

¶ 06 So consider this and join this good work. When you criticize this noble programme, we suspect drugs are behind every Opposition Member who intervened today. If not, all should contribute to this good work. The Opposition is not a group that must oppose everything; it is to show the correct path. They should guide and make necessary interventions. We think that did not happen here today. At this adjournment, they have taken a very valuable topic and turned it against themselves.

¶ 07 Earlier, a Member said the Opposition is weak. Yes—that is true; it is a completely weakened Opposition. Therefore, they are in this state today.

¶ 08 We say: all should support this proposal brought in goodwill by a government Member, make necessary interventions, and point out any shortcomings—rather than telling other stories and wasting time.

¶ 09 We know the drug menace did not arise overnight. It began small; in our school days it was nascent. But today, mothers and fathers say it is rampant. Parents tell children going to school, “It’s okay to go, but do not accept even a toffee from anyone.” We have been reduced to telling a child not to take a toffee from another child. That is how bad it is. We must stop this. The government will act to stop it, make the necessary interventions, and build the public barrier. It cannot be done by law alone, in isolation.