Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law

Thank you, Madam Presiding Member, for this opportunity. On import levies: you came to power saying you would empower farmers and strengthen people’s livelihoods. Yet what we see is an approach that strengthens importers by cutting levies on vegetables, fruits and other foods brought from abroad, while our farmers and fishers struggle. You say you allocated Rs. 10 billion to buy paddy. Even now farmers cannot sell at a fair price; farmer organizations are raising this with the Government and with the Opposition. Instead, you resort to your usual repression—intimidate farmers—while your business friends import rice. You said you would end the mafia with one stroke; I will not even speak about the mafia now, because you rely on them even more than we ever did. In the end, the farmer who cannot even afford a bicycle has been dragged to the gutter. Fertilizer was not delivered on time, despite promises of subsidies. Harvests were not purchased. The Ditwa cyclone caused crop and land damage. You promised new houses to those whose homes were destroyed; when we visit affected areas, local party officials say land is being found to build houses—but people still do not know where they will go. You said even if only a sheet is lost, you would give Rs. 1 million; and if there is no land to rebuild, Rs. 5 million for land and Rs. 5 million for the house—Rs. 10 million in total. People trusted the President’s promise and held on, hoping for Rs. 10 million. A week later, the President told Parliament, “If you must lie, do it in Parliament; if you want to tell the truth, do it outside.” Both happened—the lie was told, and told in Parliament. You said there was a trillion in the account to pay compensation; yet the cheques you issued bounced. Whether Rs. 10 billion sits in the account or was transferred elsewhere—we do not know. But we ask you to intervene for the farmers. Recently, stake-net fishermen and graduates came to meet the President. He spoke to them kindly. Now we watch to see whether you keep those promises—made by those who worked for you and voted for you. You have a right to govern, but also a duty to deliver. Next, the quota of jobs in Israel in the productive sector given to the Government has been handed to the private sector. Your officials and Minister said 750 will be readied to go. To date, the Minister cannot be met; you cannot get time with the State Minister; the Foreign Employment Bureau turns people away. Those 750 are only one batch. Meanwhile, some are being quietly sent through other channels. Those who completed training and were told to prepare have waited 10–12 months and still cannot go. What are you doing? You are taking another batch, claiming they will go to Israel, while private agencies send people who can pay large sums. The Government’s quota is not utilized. Those with money get to go. Whether you are involved or not, I do not know; but a few in the business sector are sending people to Israel. This is grossly unfair. Do not allow this. Do justice to these 750—some even resigned their jobs. If there are agencies you work with, fine; use them. But be fair. I spoke only about one sector; similar issues arise with jobs in Korea. At least address a few of these. You are trying to claim national security on the back of the cricket World Cup. Throughout our history—even during the war—we hosted international tournaments safely. When our team was attacked in Lahore, we still toured again under a different Government; Sri Lanka Cricket and the Government managed relations and ensured safety. If the President has now intervened and SLC has worked, good—do that. But if you claim national and citizen security are guaranteed, what is your answer to the recent double murder of a lawyer and his wife near the Akuregoda Army Headquarters, on the road to your party office?