2026-03-03 / Debate: Foreign Exchange Act Order under Section 22 of the Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017 2026-03-03
## Summary
Hon. Hector Appuhamy criticised the President's address for lacking concrete details on Sri Lanka's response to the global crisis, arguing it should have specified fuel stocks, incoming supply arrangements, and engagement strategies with international bodies such as the UN, IAEA, and WTO, and called for all 225 Members to be included in forming a national strategy. He attributed public panic over queues to fear generated by the government's own rhetoric during the *aragalaya* period, placing responsibility on the government to restore public confidence. On the Easter Sunday attacks, speaking as a Catholic, he expressed dissatisfaction with the current accountability process, raising specific questions about the protection of Ibrahim Naina and his family's alleged financial role in the attacks, the return of assets, and the past and present roles of certain lawyers and a Minister connected to the case. He demanded the government identify and charge the mastermind before the upcoming April 21 anniversary, warning against using unrelated arrests to obscure accountability, and called for thorough investigation of both the Saleh and Ibrahim files, including any foreign connections.
Thank you, Madam Deputy Chairperson, for the opportunity.
Most speakers today spoke not on the scheduled subject but on the global and domestic situation, as the President did this morning. Our view is that the President should have addressed what Sri Lanka will face because of the war, and the steps being taken: how we will secure fuel, gas, medicines; how we will protect exports such as tea; how we will engage the UN, IAEA on nuclear concerns, and the WTO on trade; and how we will coordinate with the UN Security Council and regional leaders. He should have invited all 225 Members to discuss a national strategy. Instead, we heard statistics without explaining concrete implications or logistics—what fuel stocks we have, what is incoming, what ships are en route, what gas consignments are due.
The Opposition Leader, Sajith Premadasa, offered to work together to engage the international community. We were not in queues manufacturing panic; those who voted for you were. Why did they rush to queues? Because of the fear you sowed during the “aragalaya”—you filled people’s heads with venom back then; now even a whisper makes them panic. The responsibility is yours; you must now show the plan to undo that fear.
On the Easter Sunday attacks: as a Catholic, I say clearly that we are not satisfied with the present process. The arrest of Mr. Saleh—do not make a movie that pretends senior officials knew nothing. We have a President, a Defence Minister, a Justice Minister, a Minister in charge of Police and an IGP. Do not use arrests to deflect from real accountability.
We ask again: who protected Ibrahim Naina—once on a national list—for his family’s role in the attacks, even as his household financed aspects of it? Why are assets being returned? Tell this House who shielded him and why he is portrayed as innocent. We hear that lawyers who appeared for Sahabdeen back then now hold positions. There are serious questions about a Minister’s role. We must identify and charge the mastermind. Do not play games. You promised answers by April 21 last year; another April 21 is coming. Keep your promise. Do not arrest one person over a coal issue to bury the matter. Investigate both the Saleh file and the Ibrahim file properly; if any foreign link exists, probe that too. As Catholics, we demand real answers.
Thank you.