The Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today we debate two Gazettes amending existing laws to deliver justice to the public and protect revenue. Yet the Opposition habitually diverts debates to attack the Government, instead of addressing the instruments before the House.

¶ 02 One Gazette extends concessions on Embarkation Tax to promote tourism—100% waiver for Mattala departures; 50% discount for Ratmalana and Jaffna departures. The other concerns vehicle import luxury limits to give public relief. These measures are aimed at economic growth. The Opposition spoke about salt shortages and a closed factory—issues which can be raised separately, but are not the subject of this debate.

¶ 03 They misread the local authority election results. The Government conducted an unprecedentedly clean campaign—no posters under our Clean Sri Lanka initiative; no misuse of state media or resources. People are not used to such elections. The results are more about local gratitude to candidates than a mandate to topple the Government. We ask the Opposition to understand that people have given us strength to continue our programme.

¶ 04 We will assess progress by December—judge us then. We will work so effectively that some in the Opposition may find it hard to even go to the villages to seek votes. Also, morning Question Time is being turned into a media show by a few Members; that will not win public trust. The people gave us 159 seats and them 66—understand that message.