Hon. Eranga Gunasekara

Deputy Minister Gunasekara spoke in support of a Bill to abolish MPs' pensions, framing it as part of fulfilling the democratic aspirations of the popular uprising that occurred approximately four years prior. He referenced the aftermath of that movement, noting that over 3,000 youth islandwide face legal cases, and stated that the government distinguishes between those who protested lawfully—for whom it seeks justice—and those who committed violent acts, who should face legal consequences. He specifically accused an organised group linked to the Rajapaksa political leadership of attacking peaceful protesters on 9 May, and challenged those leaders to appear before the courts and give evidence rather than make promises about fair investigations. He concluded by declaring the government's commitment to making the current year one of justice, both for victims of the crackdown and for perpetrators of crimes committed during the unrest.

Hon. Eranga Gunasekara made a brief closing argument in support of passing the Sri Lanka Real Estate Professionals' Institute Bill. He argued that the absence of regulatory oversight in the real estate sector enables mafias to operate and drives up housing and land prices, and that the proposed Institute would introduce professional standards, enable market interventions, and reduce jurisdictional conflicts with existing bodies through the Bill's amendments.

## Summary Hon. Eranga Gunasekara delivered a speech combining partisan criticism of the Opposition with substantive remarks on the Sri Lanka Real Estate Professionals' Institute Bill at its Second Reading. He accused Opposition members of political inconsistency and opportunism, characterising their conduct as theatrics driven by internal contradictions rather than principled governance concerns. Turning to legislation, he explained that the Bill aims to formally recognise and elevate the status of real estate professionals within Sri Lanka's economy, drawing parallels with established bodies such as the Institution of Engineers and the Institute of Chartered Accountants. He acknowledged potential concerns about jurisdictional overlap with existing professional bodies, assured that the Government does not intend to disadvantage any current profession, and indicated that a number of Committee Stage Amendments—developed through prior consultations with industry professionals and former Minister Anura Karunathilaka—would be moved during the debate.

## Summary Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara criticized Opposition members for deviating from the subject matter of the Bills under debate, arguing that their contributions were irrelevant to the three pieces of legislation before the House. The Deputy Minister's remarks were procedural in nature, calling attention to what he characterized as a failure by the Opposition to engage with the actual legislative business of the day.