The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I raise a Question of Privilege regarding a planned breach of my parliamentary privilege at the Jaffna District Coordinating Committee meeting held on 17.07.2025, chaired by Hon. Minister Ramalingam Chandraseker, organized by the District Secretary and the Northern Province Governor.

¶ 02 Despite Circular No. 2022/01 issued by the State Minister of National Security, Home Affairs and Disaster Management detailing composition and procedure, the District Secretary invited local authority chairpersons, who are not entitled to be called as per the circular. Contrary to Paragraph 33, an ineligible person—a National List MP—was appointed as Committee Chair, causing confusion.

¶ 03 When Hon. Ilankumaran raised an issue about a Municipal Council road closure, I responsibly stated that Jaffna Municipal and Pradeshiya Sabha authorities were not regularly removing garbage. The invited party representatives—local authority chairpersons—behaved uncivilly and shouted at me, a Member of Parliament and a medical doctor, using abusive words such as “Get out, dog!” This insults the dignity due to a Member and to Parliament.

¶ 04 The appointment of an ineligible Chair, the invitation of unauthorized local authority chairpersons, and the failure to control the meeting are serious lapses. I request that this be referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges for proper inquiry and action to redress the slur on a Member of Parliament and on this august House, and that written instructions be issued to the relevant Local Government Commissioner to prevent recurrence. Only duly entitled representatives should be invited to District Development Committee meetings funded by the Central Government.

¶ 05 Further, Paragraph 26 of the circular states that if individuals at various levels are required for a particular item, they must be called a few days in advance and submit written views to the District or Divisional Secretary; ad hoc attendance to influence decisions is not permitted. The Jaffna District Secretary, Mr. M. Pradeepan, violated this by allowing unrelated individuals and political henchmen, thereby undermining the District’s development by disrupting the Committee. I request that he be summoned before the Committee and an inquiry initiated. Kindly refer my Privilege complaint appropriately. Thank you.