Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam, M.P.

Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK)· National List

Profession: Medical Practitioner

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 87 #58 of 225·#4 in party

Attendance 7/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

87 speeches

19 December 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam expressed condolences for disaster victims and argued that Sri Lanka’s disaster governance has failed to function as required under the Disaster Management Act No. 13 of 2005, particularly because the National Council for Disaster Management has not met quarterly as mandated. He said weaknesses in mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery—such as inadequate planning, lack of drills, staff shortages at the Disaster Management Centre, and insufficient divisional officers—have worsened recurring disaster impacts. He welcomed proposals to amend the 2005 Act but urged a policy of relocating repeatedly affected communities, including in Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Mannar, to safer areas rather than resettling them in unsafe locations. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 240 – Programme 02 – Cyclone Disaster Relief (Rs. 500 Billion) Security & DefenceInfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
27 November 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam welcomed allocations for agriculture-related services, including market access, but requested cold storage facilities at the Vavuniya Economic Center and phased rehabilitation of minor irrigation tanks in Vavuniya, where many tanks are damaged or abandoned. He urged transparent consultations on the Kivul Oya project, citing concerns that it could submerge lands and village tanks of longstanding Tamil residents and lead to conflict. He also called for expanded support to dairy farmers nationwide, including veterinary staff, transport, essential medicines, and enforcement of indicative prices for milk and meat. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) AgricultureEthnic Reconciliation & DevolutionLand & Housing Read →
27 November 2025 AI summary Dr. Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam informed the House that a Division would not be called on the matter under consideration. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
25 November 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam called for the continuation of free education while also establishing a robust mechanism to ensure standards in private and international schools. He urged equitable resource allocation, increased support for student nutrition, health and hygiene, and action to address high dropout rates and shortages affecting low-income and differently-abled students. He welcomed several Budget allocations, including for Vavuniya University facilities and education allowances, but requested additional funding for solid waste and sewage management at Vavuniya University. He also highlighted severe shortages of principals and teachers, especially in Tamil, Sinhala, English and mathematics, in Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Mannar and the wider Vanni District, and asked that these vacancies and damaged college infrastructure be addressed urgently. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Education Read →
22 November 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam welcomed the proposed 2026 “Aarokkiya” centres but urged the Government to first strengthen the Northern Province’s existing 110 hospitals by filling major consultant and medical officer vacancies and improving infrastructure. He requested full operationalization of the Mankulam rehabilitation hospital, expedited development of Mannar, Murikandy/Murunkan, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya health facilities, including a CT scanner for Mannar and a logistics vehicle for Vavuniya. He also highlighted the potential use of existing de-addiction centres, called for urgent anesthetist appointments in Mannar, and sought action on Siddha and Ayurveda vacancies and Siddha drug production, including investment in the Kilinochchi herbal garden. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Public FinanceInfrastructureHealthcare Read →
22 November 2025 AI summary Dr. Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam thanked the Minister and requested the Deputy Chair not to deduct time from his allotted speaking time due to the Minister’s intervention. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
22 November 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam highlighted resource shortages in Northern Province health services, noting the province’s large area and dispersed population. He said the last cadre revision was in 2013 and that, even under that outdated cadre, 1,913 of 8,295 required posts remain vacant across all staff categories. He asked the Minister to fill these vacancies, specifically pointing out that 33 of 55 divisional hospitals have no nursing officer. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) HealthcarePublic Finance Read →
21 November 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam urged the development of Palaly Airport, Kankesanthurai Harbour, and Talaimannar Port in the Northern region. He noted that India is prepared to provide nearly LKR 20,000 million to Sri Lanka and requested that these funds be used to develop Kankesanthurai Harbour. Appropriation Bill, 2026 – Committee Stage Debate: Twelfth Allotted Day Infrastructure Read →
21 November 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam argued that rural development should be treated as national development, calling for the release and allocation of land for productive use, rehabilitation of abandoned irrigation tanks, and politically unbiased distribution of 2026 Budget rural development funds to local authorities. He urged stronger social protection for vulnerable groups, particularly persons with disabilities and female-headed households in the North and East, and requested additional welfare funding for war-affected areas. He proposed improved disability services including special education facilities in every Divisional Secretariat, reserved seating in public transport, mobile services for bedridden patients, accessible housing with at least Rs. 2 million per unit, and genuinely accessible soft loans. He also asked that Aswesuma eligibility not be determined solely by electricity bills, noting that persons with disabilities may have higher electricity use due to assistive needs. Appropriation Bill, 2026 – Committee Stage Debate: Twelfth Allotted Day Women & ChildrenHealthcareAgriculture Read →
21 November 2025 AI summary Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam thanked the Deputy Minister and informed the House that his second supplementary question would be asked by the Leader of the Opposition. Oral Question: Vavuniya Dedicated Economic Centre (Question No. 1) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 November 2025 AI summary Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam proposed establishing a cold-storage facility at the Economic Centre, noting that over 5,000 kg of vegetables arrive there daily and wastage occurs due to the lack of cold rooms, and asked whether this could be done under the current Budget allocations. He also supported retaining the Centre’s administration under the Government Agent. He further asked when persons undergoing drug rehabilitation at the Co-operative Training School in Poonthottam would be moved to a more suitable facility, suggesting the provincial rehabilitation centre at Poovarasankulam Hospital as an alternative. Oral Question: Vavuniya Dedicated Economic Centre (Question No. 1) HealthcarePublic FinanceAgriculture Read →
21 November 2025 AI summary Asked the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development about the long-delayed opening of the Vavuniya Economic Centre, noting that it was proposed in 2015, built in 2018 at Madaguwaiththakulam at a cost of Rs. 263 million, and remains unopened seven years later. He sought details on measures to operationalize it, the timeline for opening, the basis for allocating its 52 stalls, and whether existing wholesale vegetable traders would receive them. Oral Question: Vavuniya Dedicated Economic Centre (Question No. 1) EmploymentPublic FinanceInfrastructure Read →
20 November 2025 AI summary Dr. Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam stated that resettled communities continue to face unresolved issues. He also responded briefly to references made by other Members, including a remark concerning the Tamil Arasu Kachchi, saying his party would manage its own affairs. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
20 November 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam rose on a Point of Order. No substantive argument, proposal, or policy issue is recorded in the provided extract. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
20 November 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam responded to Hon. Nizam Kariapper’s question regarding a meeting held with the President the previous day. He stated that, regardless of media reports, the President had listened carefully and indicated that a future process would be established to discuss a needed political solution. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
19 November 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam called for corrections to administrative arrangements in the North, including a dedicated Pradeshiya Sabha for Manal Aar and separate Pradeshiya Sabhas for areas where one council covers multiple DSDs, citing service delivery problems and revenue constraints. He raised concerns over Mahaweli “L” Zone resettlement, land and irrigation disputes, the Triwaitku Lake claim, and the Kivul Oya project, requesting an inter-ethnic committee to ensure equitable benefits and protect ancestral lands. He also urged appointments to address staff shortages in local authorities, better assessment and tax collection systems, heavy machinery for war-affected resettlement areas, and full implementation of Provincial Council provisions alongside the allocated funding for elections. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Land & HousingPublic FinanceEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
13 November 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam seconded the Adjournment Motion calling for a National Strategic Plan for Eye Health, citing preventable blindness among adults under 40 and major causes such as cataract, refractive errors, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. He said Sri Lanka faces a large cataract surgery need, but pointed to the Northern Province, especially Jaffna Teaching Hospital and Vavuniya General Hospital, as examples where high surgical capacity and NGO/international support have reduced waiting lists. He urged islandwide implementation of similar coordinated measures, noting the Northern Province’s higher cataract surgical rate as a model for reducing preventable blindness nationally. Adjournment Motion: National Strategic Plan for Eye Health Healthcare Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary Dr. Sathiyalingam supported the 2026 Budget’s stabilisation efforts under IMF-backed fiscal management but argued that sustainable development requires equal treatment of all communities and stronger capital investment. He questioned the continued high Defence allocation of Rs. 455 billion sixteen years after the war, while education, agriculture, women and children, and social empowerment receive comparatively low allocations. He urged the release of lands held by state agencies in post-war areas, rehabilitation of tanks, support for SMEs, and targeted investment, port development, and tourism promotion in the Northern Province, including use of Indian assistance for Kankesanthurai Port. He also called for the Clean Sri Lanka programme to address corruption, drugs, racism, and alleged ethnic and language-based discrimination by state departments. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading AgriculturePublic FinanceEmployment Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam emphasized the need for community consultation in developing fast train services. He welcomed the Budget proposal doubling temporary railway gatekeepers’ pay from Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 15,000, but noted their longstanding difficulties under the Police Department and asked whether the remaining gatekeepers and other temporary or volunteer railway workers could be brought under the Railways Ministry and regularized. Oral Question: Vavuniya-Kilinochchi Section of Northern Railway Line – Dilapidated Railway Crossings (Q.1085/2025) InfrastructureEmploymentPublic Finance Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam raised concerns that, during post-war reconstruction of the Northern Line, traditional railway crossings in areas not yet resettled were closed, including a long-used pathway near Omanthai station. He asked whether the Ministry, with local authorities and the Railway Department, would consult the public to identify and provide necessary crossings within the year, and welcomed the proposal for parallel roads along the railway line to address residents’ access issues promptly. Oral Question: Vavuniya-Kilinochchi Section of Northern Railway Line – Dilapidated Railway Crossings (Q.1085/2025) InfrastructureEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →