2026-02-05 / Second Reading Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals Bill, Container Depot Operators Licensing Bill, and Licensing of Shipping Agents Amendment Bill - Member Contributions 2026-02-05
## Summary
Speaking on 5 February 2026, Ms. Lakmali Hemachandra addressed two issues: the treatment of female Members in the chamber, and what she characterised as communalist narratives introduced into Independence Day commemorations by Opposition members. She argued that Sri Lanka's thirty-year civil war demonstrated the severe cost of ethnic division, and called on political leaders across parties to reject communalism rather than exploit it electorally. She specifically criticised Hon. Namal Rajapaksa for claiming to represent Sinhala Buddhists while practising divisive politics, and cautioned against portraying Sinhala Buddhist communities as complicit in corruption. She also defended the Tri-Forces, citing their humanitarian role during a recent cyclone as reason to honour rather than belittle them on Independence Day.
Mr. Speaker, no one here asks for special consideration because she is a woman. We only ask that female Members be treated with respect. If the Hon. Member wishes, he can take his turn and speak later. We know his habits well.
Let me move to a more important matter. Yesterday was our Independence Day. Today, I heard many erroneous narratives by some Members, who tried to inject communalism into Independence Day, and to belittle our Tri-Forces.
We must understand that we live in a country that has paid a heavy price for communalism. Thirty years of war damaged our economic, cultural and political freedom, and gravely harmed inter-ethnic relations. Therefore, political leaders across parties carry a responsibility not to stoke communalism, but to reject it and not exploit it for politics.
Regrettably, some in the Opposition still base their politics on dividing our people by ethnicity, religion and culture. Some try to depict the Sinhala Buddhist people we represent as thieves or as supporters of their crude politics. That is false. Sinhala Buddhists are not thieves; they are moral, caring people who respect others—as we saw during the recent cyclone when all our communities helped each other.
Hon. Namal Rajapaksa spoke today as if he alone stands for nation and religion. But he could not even get elected from the South; how then does he claim to stand for Sinhala Buddhists? Such divisive politics once bankrupted the country and made us kneel before the world.
Our Members include Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims; we will not allow communalism. Do not demean Sinhala Buddhists by portraying them as criminals while looting under their guise. We must stand for all communities equally.
Why did the Opposition back down from its obscene rhetoric around education “reforms”? Because Sinhala Buddhist mothers and fathers in our villages opposed it. Similarly, we must respect the Tri-Forces who did immense work during the cyclone—rescue, restoring normalcy and rebuilding infrastructure. We should honour them, not belittle them, when we celebrate Independence.