The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake

¶ 01 Madam Deputy Chairperson of Committees, first, I must speak about this Government. We all know that when you disturb filth heaps, flies swarm. Now look at the removal of the Deputy Secretary-General of Parliament.

¶ 02 [Expunged on the order of the Chair.]

¶ 03 There is a procedure. Officials go there.

¶ 04 [Expunged on the order of the Chair.]

¶ 05 Officials cannot just stand by and watch. Those issues have been brought here.

¶ 06 [Expunged on the order of the Chair.]

¶ 07 They should be addressed where necessary. Instead, they bring these here and casually chase away an official. This is a big issue. These are not issues that should be handled like that. That is one point.

¶ 08 Next, the issue of the Rent Act and housing. If this Bill is brought, it will create a big problem. Due to the “FOO” cyclone, many people in Badulla District—my district—have taken houses on rent using the Rs. 25,000 provided by the Government. The Government gave Rs. 25,000. But people are afraid when such laws are introduced. Our Minister of Justice said, “This will not happen like that.” If so, they should go among the people and explain and then bring the law. As of now, many living in rented houses are afraid. People who are renting are being evicted. The Government has created such a problem.

¶ 09 Next, I must speak about the former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake. He is a respected former Presidential Secretary, unlike some secretaries who served under previous Presidents we worked with, Madam Deputy Chairperson of Committees. When his case was called, appearing for the Attorney General’s Department, Deputy Solicitor General Dilip Peiris called him “corrupt” and a “fraud.” A Deputy Solicitor General has no right to label someone “corrupt” in a case that is being tried. He is the Government’s lawyer. He comes and uses words like “thief” and “robber.”

¶ 10 Then Dilip Peiris says, “We will file this case within six months before a three-judge bench.” How can he say that? Only the Chief Justice can constitute a three-judge bench. Has he taken the Chief Justice’s powers into his hands? Has he also taken over the Attorney General’s powers? We know who Dilip Peiris is. He spends nights drinking and dining with former IGP Tennakoon, arm in arm. After indulging at night and riding in each other’s vehicles, when things went wrong for Tennakoon, Dilip Peiris went to the Matara court and said Tennakoon came by vehicle to court. There is no dignity or propriety in such conduct. Whatever position he holds in the AG’s Department, it does not matter to us. This is the type of person this Government wants to capture the AG’s Department with. Let us see about them too. They cannot occupy those positions forever. He might think he can grab the Government and leap to become Attorney General. I must say now: you cannot run this country by exerting such pressure.

¶ 11 I have many questions to raise today. The DMT (Department of Motor Traffic) Commissioner-General’s tenure has been extended by six months from 26 February. He is from Kurunegala. The Auditor-General has issued a special audit query stating that, due to withholding vehicle number issuance, a loss of Rs. 9.7 million has been caused to the Government. Yet his service has been extended. This is what this Government is doing—extending terms for such DMT bosses.

¶ 12 Next, imports of barley for Thriposha. With the approval of the Controller General of Imports and Exports, 2,025 metric tons of barley required for Thriposha have been imported. Approval and permits were granted; the stock has arrived. Now there seems to be an issue with two or three Ministers. The Food Minister says there is no issue. The Media Spokesman says the same. But the stock is not being released. This person has spent tens of millions, brought barley for Thriposha, and now the cargo is stuck at the port. We do not know on what basis they are acting. The man has already suffered tens of millions in losses. These remain stuck at the port. We do not know how the Government is proceeding and what they are expecting. If they are expecting something, at least tell this person. The goods are stuck at the port.

¶ 13 Next issue: construction inputs. To work in the country, we need everything—cement, sand, and stone. These days, quarrying work cannot proceed. There are no electric blasting caps. For two years, no electric blasting caps have been imported. Without them, quarry operations cannot be maintained, and then there are no stones, and then you cannot build roads. There are many such issues.

¶ 14 Next, retirement of private-sector employees. In the Budget, you said the private sector minimum wage would be increased from Rs. 17,000 to Rs. 27,000. Madam Deputy Chairperson, although the President stated so here, some private institutions have still not implemented that wage increase.

¶ 15 Next, about democracy: when acting democratically, you must accept defeat and face it. We lost the Presidential Election. Next, the Parliamentary Election will come. Likewise, you must accept defeat too. In the Matara District—Kotapola, Beralapanathara and Bakkamana cooperatives—elections were held, including in Dickwella. After losing, they are not allowing the General Meeting to be held. The Southern Province Cooperative Commissioner is clinging to power, refusing to accept defeat. If you lost, hand over the cooperative to the winner. That is democracy.

¶ 16 Things never before seen in this country are happening. Under any government and any President, the Chief Commissioner of the Scouts was always an independent person. The former Scouts Commissioner has been removed and the President has appointed someone else. This is shameful. Do not do such things. Today, 16,000 development officers have taken to the streets. When Susil Premajayantha was Education Minister there was a court case about development officers; after talks with both sides, the issue was resolved well. But after this Government came, those people have had to launch death-fast protests and come to the streets. If you think that because this Government is in power the people are not afraid, that is not the case. Now 16,000 development officers are outside. Next, unemployed graduates will join. Then postal workers. Then health sector workers. There are many such issues.

¶ 17 The railways too: although “864” is over, the upcountry rail services are in trouble; they say upcountry trains cannot run. But now in other parts of the country also, some trains are not operating. The train to Anuradhapura runs only up to Maho. Many such problems exist.

¶ 18 Next, the issues of Sevanagala and Pelwatte sugar factories. Regardless of which government set these up, they must be looked into. Today there is nothing to take from Sevanagala. Sugarcane farmers are destitute—about 9,068 of them. I appeal to the President to examine these carefully. If Sevanagala and Pelwatte are closed, it will not be good for your Government. Those people are suffering; sugarcane farmers are suffering. Factories are collapsing; they cannot continue. There is no sugar. Harvesting of cane is not happening. These are big problems. Call the MPs of that Province and inquire. Ask your own MPs what has happened at Sevanagala, Pelwatte and the Ethimale sugar factory. The sugar industry is finished. If the Industry Minister cannot handle it, say so. A brown sugar shop was opened; it stayed open for a month and then closed. You called someone the “Brown Sugar Minister.” Now what? There is no brown, no white, no black sugar—nothing in the shops. Many such issues.

¶ 19 Next, at the People’s Bank, security guards and others in the 668609 category were promised a minimum monthly wage increase from Rs. 17,000 to Rs. 27,000 by the President, but they have not been given it. Look into this. When we raise such matters, what does the Government say? The Justice Minister said Chamara does not understand. Say I do not understand—that is fine. But he is a lawyer; he should understand, which is why he was made Justice Minister. If you say I do not understand, then it seems he does not understand rents either. Why? Because he is not living in a rented house. He lives in a house given by President Premadasa—both his official and private residences are houses given by President Premadasa in Colombo and in Mount Lavinia. From a rented house he moved into a house given by President Premadasa. He then makes laws that allow the destruction of rented homes and eviction of tenants. Is that acceptable?

¶ 20 [Expunged on the order of the Chair.]

¶ 21 With such idle Ministers, how will this Government function?