The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, we are debating regulations under the Intellectual Property Act. I need not explain intellectual property; as a government, we must know what our rights are under it. Particularly, I say this: the Katchatheevu islet was secured for us by Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Now there is talk of India asking for it back. We must protect what we have.

¶ 02 Next, the old story repeatedly told here about a teacher being made to kneel is outdated; stop repeating it. The new story is Samantha eating cashew—those are the tales now on the market. Many senior MPs lost at the election; yet Badulla sent Chamara back. These old stories are irrelevant. Also note, I have been acquitted by the Magistrate’s Court.

¶ 03 The Minister, Samantha Vidyarathna, claimed there is a case against me about distributing bags. If Bank of Ceylon or People’s Bank officers had difficulty depositing to my account, they should be jailed first. Let me say this: Sanjaya—Samantha’s staffer in Badullepitiy—his wife worked at my office and lodged the complaint at the Bribery Commission. That file is gathering dust. File cases if you wish; your government is in power. Do it quickly—even better if in April. We are not afraid of cases.

¶ 04 On Lanka Phosphate: Minister Samantha may not know; Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe from Thambuttegama does. Workers couldn’t sell phosphate for 22 years and suffered. When I took over, the OD was Rs. 150 million; I delivered Rs. 1.5 billion profit, sold about 50 shiploads after 22 years, and resolved litigation.

¶ 05 Royalties in dollars are levied by the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) on export sales; thereafter GSMB certifies quantities sold. The Minister speaks without knowing.

¶ 06 He said there was a sinkhole at Uma Oya dam. There is none. The government is getting 100 MW at peak time. Water goes to Wellawaya, Hambantota, Handapanagala. Stop misleading the public. If you want a point of order, take it.

¶ 07 If there are files, bring them. Do not let them get stale; otherwise courts will say “these are 2015, 2016 cases” and grant bail. File them so there is no bail if you can.