Hon. M.A.M. Thahir

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for the chance to speak on the regulation under the Foreign Exchange Act. The world is now in a very dangerous situation. World powers, led by the Trump administration together with Netanyahu’s government in Israel, are launching attacks starting with Iran, seeking to destroy it, turning the Middle East into a war zone. As a result, the whole world is in fear. For us, it has economic consequences, affecting our path forward. Nearly a million of our citizens work in the Middle East. There are issues over oil and gas. The world is watching our foreign policy and what steps we will take. When the President came this morning to open the debate, I thought he would bring a motion saying “the attack on Iran, the killing of its spiritual leader, is wrong” so we could unanimously send a message to the world. Regrettably, he did not speak about that. Instead, he made the statements the Energy Minister should make, then those the Trade Minister should make, and those the Foreign Minister should make. The President need not tell us how much oil is in tanks, how many ships are coming—that is for the relevant Ministers. When the President speaks on things Ministers should explain, it shows the Ministers are ineffective and that the President lacks confidence in them. One pities the President: whenever there is an issue—education or anything else—he has to come and speak. The Ministers sit in the front row while he does all the talking. But cunningly and opportunistically, he avoided revealing the NPP’s long-held positions while in Opposition about America and Israel. We have seen the harm powerful countries do to others. They used to protest in front of the US Embassy—over Venezuela and Iran. Where is that radicalism now? Did it vanish in July? Or was it sold? Today they are silent. The US Congress has condemned these actions as illegal. The British Parliament has said so too. People all over the world are taking to the streets against this aggression. Some countries—like Spain—have refused to allow their territory to be used for such attacks. Yet the JVP/NPP, once a political movement built on anti-imperialism, is in power and silent. Why didn’t you condemn the killing of Iran’s spiritual leader by American and Israeli bombing? Your spokesperson, Nalin Jayatissa, merely expressed condolences. He did not die of a heart attack; he was assassinated. You lack the moral courage to denounce it. Remember, our leaders once took decisions with backbone. When the Palestine issue arose, President Ranasinghe Premadasa shut the Israeli Interest Section and told them to leave. Sirimavo Bandaranaike was such a leader too. We have always followed a non-aligned foreign policy. We thought you would uphold it even better. Instead, you have become pro-Israel administrators. If you were in Opposition today, you would be the first outside the US Embassy. But having gained power, you have completely changed. A primary school was bombed and 160 schoolgirls were killed. I saw the Prime Minister moved over Victor Rathnayake’s song—but not over the deaths of those schoolgirls. Before taking power you were sensitive about Palestine, about everyone; you frequently visited the Palestinian office. Now, no more. Today you operate like a pro-Israel regime. Israeli activity inside Sri Lanka has grown. I asked in this House about the Chabad House outside the Cinnamon Grand. The Prime Minister said it was illegal—yet it still enjoys police protection. If illegal, why is it not closed? You have allowed Israelis visa-free entry to Sri Lanka. We are told IDF soldiers have arrived in numbers and set up camps in the Eastern Province. Israeli activity is increasing. We thought your government would reduce such things, not expand them. Hon. Deputy Speaker, my time is short. I will conclude. The whole world is now destabilized. People worldwide are rising up against this war. We urge the Government to implement a foreign policy befitting a sovereign nation. For decades, every government protected our non-aligned foreign policy. We ask you to uphold it with courage. Thank you.