The Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, thank you for the time. Looking at the current situation, people are finding it extremely hard to live; fuel price hikes have pushed every sector into distress.

¶ 02 Yesterday, the President announced a Rs. 10 billion relief package—raising fertilizer support to farmers by Rs. 5,000 and the Aswesuma allowance from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 7,500—among other reliefs. He also announced support to fisheries, mentioning me by name: increasing assistance to multi-day vessel owners by Rs. 150,000 per trip, and Rs. 50 per litre for lamp oil for small boats.

¶ 03 Let me ask the Fisheries Minister who is present: There are about 7,000 multi-day boats; 1,600 target tuna for export; others do coarse and net fishing. Coarse/net boats use 4,000–6,000 litres per trip; tuna boats on 1.5–2 month trips use 10,000–11,000 litres. In February, diesel rose from Rs. 272 to Rs. 382 per litre—an increase of Rs. 110—despite claims prices wouldn’t rise till April due to inventory. For a 10,000-litre trip, that’s Rs. 1.1 million extra. The Government collects Rs. 1.1 million per trip from each multi-day vessel due to this hike; then gives Rs. 150,000 as relief—skimming Rs. 950,000 per trip. This is deceit.

¶ 04 If you give Rs. 50 per litre for small boats, do the same Rs. 50 per litre for multi-day boats. That is fairness. Don’t rob and then toss scraps. I request the Minister to raise this with the President and ensure Rs. 50 per litre support for multi-day fleets.

¶ 05 I will speak about Hambantota District. Today it is politicized—State institutions, municipal and Pradeshiya Sabhas, police—partly due to the split between JVP and NPP camps. Traders are in distress.

¶ 06 On New Year promotional activities in Tissamaharama, Tangalle, Walasmulla, etc., permits are issued by local authorities for a fee. Since 2021, Tangalle’s New Year promotions were run by the Tangalle Traders’ Association—registered for 25 years, founded when I was Mayor. This year they were blocked. They bid Rs. 610,000 twice and paid it to the Tangalle MC; also paid Rs. 10,000 to Police and informed the ASP. The ASP refused, citing a higher instruction and a 2007 court order and gazette, without showing the instruction—clearly political pressure linked to JVP officials: the PC Pal group head and former Chairman Ruwan—key JVP activists whose premises host the party office—pushed police to cancel. As a result, New Year promotions across Hambantota have been halted, turning the district into a graveyard for trade during the festive season.

¶ 07 Also, a meeting in Tangalle MC hall calling 800 teachers with the Prime Minister attending saw only 44 participants—due to political coercion—and now non-attendees are being investigated. Letters have gone from Kalyani Miss seeking reports.

¶ 08 On April 5th, the Ranaviru commemoration in Tangalle, presided over by State Minister Ruwan Senarath, saw only about 54 attendees. Those who burned buses and public property in 2022 are called “heroes,” while those who fought the war are called “soldiers.” This Government will fall first in Hambantota if this continues. Do not support JVP’s politics of revenge.

¶ 09 Thank you, Hon. Deputy Chairperson.