The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, thank you for the opportunity.

¶ 02 Today we discuss the Agreement between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates. The President has visited many countries, including the UAE, and concluded this agreement, now before Parliament.

¶ 03 This agreement will strongly influence investment promotion. For our future development, we need investors to come; new investments must take place; through investment our economy must grow. But investments must be implemented in accordance with our national systems and interests—that is what I place before Parliament.

¶ 04 When investments come, what are the obstacles? Every government through history has tried to bring large investments. Obstacles arise: environmental, zoning, social, and others. To establish investments effectively, what is the key factor? The public service. Officials grant approvals and take decisions to anchor projects. Politicians can promote and propose, but ultimately implementation depends on the public service.

¶ 05 What is the condition today? We have around 1.6 million public servants. Are they working efficiently? No, they are not. Not because they are at fault, but because they are afraid. Officials fear to make decisions. A state where public servants are afraid becomes inefficient and cannot move forward. Even if the President, Prime Minister, Cabinet, and Committees decide, if officials are afraid, they will not execute. Today from the Presidential Secretariat downwards, there is fear. Why? Because when officials act on bona fide judgment, if, out of ten decisions, eight are right and two contain errors, the official who acted in good faith is hauled to court under the Public Property Act, remanded for 14 days, unable to explain “judgment” to a judge. This is what is happening.

¶ 06 The Public Property Act was introduced under President J. R. Jayewardene to address destruction or arson against state property, including by terrorists. But in 2015, under Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Maithripala Sirisena, it was repurposed, with the FCID alongside CID. Wrongdoers must be caught, yes—but because of how the Public Property Act is applied, officials are now terrified. Previously, there were institutional codes, financial regulations, and disciplinary inquiries before escalation. Now, bypassing those, people are remanded first.

¶ 07 We see this: a former Navy Commander, a state official, is remanded; a former Motor Traffic Commissioner, a former Prisons Commissioner—arrests have taken place. I am not discussing the merits of those cases; remember, they are only suspects until courts decide. But even as suspects, families collapse. Therefore we must protect public servants. Investments ultimately require decisive, unafraid officials. Environmental clearances now take ages because officials fear to sign. Ministers don’t sign; officials do, and they face the consequences.

¶ 08 Recall: it was Ranil Wickremesinghe who strengthened the Public Property Act’s application in 2015, and he also suffered from it. If we don’t protect public servants, even a god descending to be President could not run this country.

¶ 09 We have 1.6 million officials. Grama Niladharis now fear to issue certificates. Teachers fear to even advise a student, citing human rights. I accept human rights concerns, but one should also be able to counsel. My point is: protect the public service so investments can come.

¶ 10 I also wish to express condolences regarding the recent tragic bus accident in Ella that claimed lives including the Tangalle Municipal Secretary. May such disasters not recur. To the Transport Minister and Deputy Minister: don’t respond with knee-jerk blanket crackdowns. Catch the actual offenders; don’t criminalize all bus owners, drivers, and conductors for one person’s fault. That is not progressive.

¶ 11 In conclusion, if we want investments, we must remove fear from the public service and create the mental environment for officials to work freely. Thank you for the time.