The Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, yesterday we witnessed a very tragic incident. While engaged in his official duties, the Chairman of a Pradeshiya Sabha was shot dead in his own office. Even more distressing was that a few hours later, the Minister in charge of Public Security arrived and said that, looking at the history of the Chairman who was shot, he had been involved in certain matters. What we expect from the Minister is to fulfill his responsibility to apprehend the gunmen involved in this murder, not to spend the time of this Parliament justifying the killing. This is a shameful situation, as the Minister in charge of Public Security is in fact demonstrating his own inability. As a Minister, he should be ashamed of the statement he made regarding this incident.

¶ 02 This Chairman was elected by the people at a time when there were many issues, and he became the head of the Pradeshiya Sabha by winning an election. We saw that even when the council was being constituted, there were many problems. It was said that two councillors from the ruling party had been taken away; later it was announced they were found on the coast. It was also said that another member had been shot at. Then it was suggested that perhaps our own people had done it. It was in such a context that this Chairman was appointed. Therefore, we have doubts about the Minister’s statement. Making such a statement within hours of the incident raises concerns for the Opposition as well.

¶ 03 We must also note that by now a large number of shootings have occurred. There have been over 100 shooting incidents this year and around fifty murders. The Government has a responsibility to prevent such a situation. The Government keeps saying there is no issue with national security or with the security of the country. However, every citizen today lives in a very fearful situation.

¶ 04 When speaking of narcotics, we will support any initiative to eradicate this scourge from our country. We all want to eliminate drugs. Considering our country’s position and the quantities of drugs entering, we saw recently that drugs were seized in container loads. Regarding the two drug-laden containers seized at Hambantota, media reported that even the examined consignments were revealed publicly—this after this Government assumed office. I ask you: have you not thought about this? Whether knowingly or unknowingly, around three hundred containers marked with red labels were released. If Sri Lanka is being used as a transshipment point to move drugs to other countries, then shouldn’t containers arriving here with red labels be mandatorily inspected?

¶ 05 In such a context, within a few months of your Government taking office, knowingly or unknowingly these were released. According to today’s motion to adjourn, you propose a program regarding narcotics. The routes by which drugs enter the country are known; it is now proven that they arrive through containers. It has been declared that two containers at Hambantota contained drugs. If so, is it fair to release containers like this? Of the 325 containers, over 100 carried red labels—containers that must be inspected. This gives everyone reason to suspect whether, while on the one hand presenting an image to the people of catching drugs, on the other hand you are facilitating them. Therefore we clearly tell the Government: you came to power at a time when people were living with great hardship. When people could not even afford a proper meal, when an Aragalaya erupted because people could not live in this country, the people increased your representation from three MPs to 159.