Hon. Ravindra Bandara

## Summary Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara moved an Adjournment Motion highlighting the difficulties faced by Civil Defence Force (CDF) personnel, who were originally recruited to protect border villages during the war and whose employment was regularised under the previous good governance government. He noted that approximately 28,000 CDF personnel — among the lowest-paid state employees — are now being deployed outside their home districts to serve at police stations in distant areas, where they must personally bear costs for food and lodging without receiving any allowance, unlike other state servants deployed away from home. As a result, many personnel have reportedly resigned due to inability to maintain their farms or service loan repayments. The speaker made two specific proposals: that suitable CDF personnel be absorbed into the Police Service, and that those deployed outside their home districts receive the same allowances provided to Police officers under similar circumstances.

## Summary Hon. Ravindra Bandara rejected the motion as factually flawed, citing an alleged error in the stated coal procurement figure of 12.32 million metric tons, which he argued far exceeds the actual maximum capacity of approximately 2.25 million tons. He defended the current coal procurement tender process, noting it attracted the highest number of bidders in recent years, and countered Opposition criticisms by pointing to past procurement irregularities — including instances of sub-standard coal deliveries, miscalculated penalties, and a 2022–2023 case in which Cabinet overrode both the Technical Evaluation Committee and Tender Board recommendations. Bandara dismissed allegations of financial misconduct by attributing larger losses and procedural failures to previous administrations, referencing specific losses from 2011 to 2015 and the practice of paying 100% on load-port testing alone until 2019. He concluded by condemning what he described as disruptive parliamentary behaviour and threatening to refer Opposition Members' alleged corrupt conduct to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

Hon. Ravindra Bandara posed a second supplementary question regarding the alleged connections between the underworld, drug networks, and political figures, citing the arrest of "Kehelbaddara Padme" as a reference point. He requested an update on the current status of investigations into these political links.

Hon. Ravindra Bandara posed a first supplementary question to the House, inquiring about measures taken to reduce domestic demand for drugs amid ongoing supply-side disruptions, and requesting an update on the progress of such demand-reduction efforts.

Hon. Ravindra Bandara raised a supplementary question during debate, requesting the Minister to provide two additional pieces of information: the total value of assets that have been frozen under clause (a)(ii), and the identities of the owners of those frozen assets under clause (a)(iii), acknowledging that complete information may not be immediately available.

Hon. Ravindra Bandara directed a written question to the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs seeking detailed information on anti-drug and organized crime enforcement activities from 21 September 2024 to the present. Specifically, he requested a breakdown of illegal drugs seized and suspects arrested during raids, the quantity and value of properties and assets forfeited in connection with drug trafficking and organized crime, and the names of the owners of those seized assets. The question implies a demand for transparency and accountability regarding law enforcement operations conducted during the specified period.

The Member cited statements by government Minister Bimal Rathnayake acknowledging procedural lapses in the printing of Grade 6 textbooks as evidence of failures within the government itself. He cautioned against deflecting blame onto others and announced that his side would vote against the Emergency, characterising it as a measure to suppress media freedom, the Opposition, and dissenting voices.

## Summary Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara spoke in opposition to extending the Emergency declared following Cyclone Ditva, arguing that the Government's own claim that normalcy was restored within six weeks contradicts its justification for continuation. He contended that the Emergency's enabling provisions — including restrictions on publications, rumours, and public obstruction — reveal an intent to suppress democratic rights, citing the arrests of four Buddhist monks remanded under Emergency powers and allegedly denied bail unless they withdrew a fundamental rights petition, as evidence of abuse. The speaker raised substantive concerns regarding cyclone relief, noting that 173 persons remain missing without death certificates needed for compensation claims, that 5,988 fully destroyed homes lack adequate resettlement solutions, that agricultural losses estimated at USD 814 million have gone largely uncompensated, and that relief distribution has been politically partisan. He further alleged that cheques issued by the President during relief distributions were returned due to insufficient funds, questioned the legality of such conduct, and rejected Government claims that the Opposition obstructed Grade 6 education reforms. The speaker announced the Opposition would vote against the Emergency extension.

## Summary Hon. Ravindra Bandara spoke in support of the Container Depot Operators (Licensing) Bill, arguing that the legislation aims to remove barriers to container depot operations, facilitate business, and strengthen regulatory oversight of the sector. He cited record-breaking container throughput at the Colombo Port in 2025 and positive economic indicators — including increased foreign exchange reserves, historic remittance levels, record tourist arrivals, and export growth — as evidence of the government's progress. The speech was largely defensive in nature, rebutting Opposition criticisms on multiple fronts: he defended the government's handling of the "323 containers" controversy and coal tender allegations, pointed to the establishment of Special Courts for large-scale corruption as fulfillment of an election promise, and referenced ongoing investigations into past alleged crimes including the deaths of Lasantha Wickrematunge and Eknaligoda. He also accused Opposition members of stoking ethnic and religious divisions and using inflammatory language, contrasting this with what he characterised as the government's transparent, procedure-based conduct.

Hon. Ravindra Bandara raised a second supplementary question concerning lease arrangements, highlighting that the Government has suffered financial losses through arrears in lease rent while the leased land itself remains at risk. He alleged a suspicion of collusion between the lessee and government officials, and demanded that the responsible minister outline specific follow-up measures to either recover the outstanding arrears or repossess the land in question.