The Hon. W.H.M. Dharmasena

¶ 01 Thank you, Madam Presiding Member.

¶ 02 The war’s impacts are felt by all—paddy farmers, fishers, industrial workers. It is harvest time; some are harvesting, others replanting for Yala. Farmers cannot obtain diesel in time. I request a special mechanism—through QR, or via Divisional Secretaries and Agrarian Officers’ recommendations—to supply diesel to farmers swiftly. Likewise for other sectors, including transport.

¶ 03 Factories like sugar mills in Pelwatte and Sevanagala have resumed; those supplying cane cannot transport due to diesel shortages. Provide a dedicated supply mechanism.

¶ 04 On coal: twelve ships of substandard coal have already caused about Rs. 12 billion in losses. People across the country speak of this fraud. The people placed great trust in you—calling for replacing “weeds” with “flowers”—and brought you here with a mandate. That trust is now broken. Because of this coal fraud, farmers and fishers stand in fuel queues; billions of litres of diesel are diverted daily because substandard coal forces more oil-fired generation.

¶ 05 I urge you: correct this, stop being “weeds,” and work for our poor people. Especially for the farmers of Moneragala, establish an expedited system to obtain diesel for cultivation.

¶ 06 Thank you.