2026-03-04 / Debate: Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill - Second Reading and Committee Stage
Hon. S.M. Marikkar
2026-03-04
Hon. S.M. Marikkar rejected calls to address alleged misconduct under the 2014–2015 Rajapaksa administration, arguing that the current government holds sufficient power to investigate such matters independently. He focused his argument on what he characterised as corruption in a shipping agreement, citing the late arrival of eleven ships beyond contracted delivery dates. Marikkar noted that the Attorney General had advised that grounds existed to terminate the agreement and impose penalties, but contended that the government instead chose to reschedule deliveries and grant extensions, which he presented as evidence of corrupt conduct. He challenged the government to demonstrate that this decision was not corruption.
Fine.
Hon. Presiding Member, I will not answer the way he wants. They think we must dance to their tune. We are not ready to do that. If anything happened in 2014–2015 under the Rajapaksa administration, investigate it. The Government is yours now — the President, most local authorities, two-thirds in Parliament.
Hon. Presiding Member, I will not move away from my argument. The corruption is reflected when nine ships arrive later than the dates in the Agreement — not one ship but eleven. The Attorney General has advised that there is capacity to terminate under the Agreement. Yet instead of terminating and levying penalties, you reschedule and grant another week. Is that not due to corruption? If it is not corruption there, then prove it is not.