The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen

¶ 01 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

¶ 02 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, on this adjournment debate on the current situation of the country, I wish to raise a few matters.

¶ 03 Due to rising prices of essentials, ordinary families are suffering. Even this morning I told Hon. Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe that this season the paddy harvest in our areas is good, but our farmers are struggling because they are not receiving a fair price. The Government must take constructive measures.

¶ 04 There is no price control on Keeri Samba. Mill owners decide the price. Today a kilo of Keeri Samba rice is not available even at Rs. 400 — an unfortunate situation. Even if the Government sets the paddy price for Keeri Samba at Rs. 140 per kilo, the rice still sells above Rs. 400. Hon. Deputy Minister Upali Samarasinghe is present; the Consumer Affairs Authority is under your ministry. If you do not enforce price controls properly, ordinary people will suffer — I wish to point this out.

¶ 05 For years, garbage has been dumped at Salambaikulum in Vavuniya. Under the chairmanship of Hon. Upali Samarasinghe, our DCC recently visited the area. He is keen to find a proper solution. About four years ago, attempts were made through a KOICA project; now abandoned. A long-term plan is needed. Near the dump site is a university where over 5,000 students study, with over 500 surrounding families and many villages and tanks. The environment is polluted due to unplanned dumping; this must change.

¶ 06 Upon learning of plans to relocate, some racists took to social media saying the dump should remain in Salambaikulum forever. We need not wear glasses to see if they are Tamil, Muslim, or Sinhalese. It is such racists who have ruined this country, economically and otherwise, making us beg from other nations. Racism has reared its head again over the Vavuniya garbage issue. Please, do not view this through a racist lens; look with conscience. Garbage from hospitals and the city is being dumped there. They claim garbage has been dumped there since 2003 and people settled later. True — but those people were forcibly evicted from Salambaikulum in 1990. Everyone knows why and by whom. The same forces that did politics using that eviction now speak with racist thinking. Those people, after much suffering, returned to their land — only to find garbage dumped there. They continue to live nearby; they did not come from Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Colombo or the up-country — they are locals.

¶ 07 To any politicians in Vavuniya seeking to do politics with this dump issue, from any party: within one month, make a fair alternative arrangement leading to a permanent solution. Do not criticise Hon. Upali Samarasinghe or Government officials who are trying to solve it. Otherwise, I too will join the people in democratic protests. Hon. Upali Samarasinghe has already taken steps; I thank him on behalf of the people of Vavuniya.

¶ 08 Last night we all feared what reaction the world would have to the actions of that madman “Trump.” We prayed. We now learn that Trump and his cohorts have accepted Iran’s 10 conditions and will begin talks. We thank strong nations like Russia and China for backing Iran, and leaders like those of Spain for speaking boldly, prompting others in NATO to join them instead of following Trump. Many, including the French President, said Trump’s age and illnesses lead to such wrong decisions.

¶ 09 The US President said, “We are reading Iran’s 10 conditions.” We view this as a bilateral agreement; we hear talks may be held in Pakistan this Friday. We pray they will be fair and just. The world knows the injustices committed by Israel and the US against the Palestinians. People around the world cried, prayed, and protested democratically. It is said Israel will take more than 10 years to recover from its current state. Oppositional leader Yair Lapid said yesterday’s agreement was a severe defeat for Israel, caused by Netanyahu’s wrong decisions. There is no doubt Israel is on the losing side. A week ago Trump said the Iran attack decision was not his but that of the US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth — an appalling admission.

¶ 10 The making of such a person as US President is why we face this today. Our people are also affected — especially by price increases. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE have always helped us. Iran has lost important leaders including Ayatollah Khomeini. Last night we saw Iranians, men and women, lining the roads, declaring they do not fear Trump’s threats and are ready to be martyrs — that is the character of Muslims. Therefore, countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE must work together with Iran; as Qatar decided, other Arab countries must act likewise, resolve their differences and talk among themselves. If Iran can talk to America, why not to Saudi Arabia? If these countries unite, they can expel US troops and defeat the rogue state of Israel, bringing liberation to Palestine. I conclude. Thank you.