The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member.

¶ 02 We express condolences today on the passing of four former MPs and one former woman MP. On behalf of my party, I extend condolences to all their families present.

¶ 03 On the late Hon. Malani Fonseka: she served as an MP and rendered immense service to cinema. She was popular among Tamil people as well, notably for acting alongside Sivaji Ganesan in “Pilot Premnath.” I extend condolences to her audience and to her family.

¶ 04 On the late Hon. Lucky Jayawardana: although my district is Batticaloa, I studied in Kandy and witnessed his service to the Kandy District. I extend condolences to his family. I also extend condolences on the passing of the late Hon. W. B. Ekanayake.

¶ 05 On the late Hon. Abeyratne Bandara Herath Pilapitiya: he served in Parliament in the 1960s, contemporaneous with my grandfather S. M. Rasamanickam. The late Hon. Pilapitiya, from Sabaragamuwa, was born in 1925 and was 98 at his demise. He won the Kalawana seat in March 1960, 1965 and 1977 as a UNP candidate, and served as Deputy Minister of Posts and Telecommunication. He won the first Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council election in 1988 and became Chief Minister, later serving as Governor of Uva. His 1977 appointment for Kalawana sparked legal disputes and a significant constitutional issue; a proposal emerged to split the constituency and hold by-elections under the 1978 Constitution. He chose to resign before the crisis escalated, demonstrating statesmanship. There is more to say, but I will be brief.

¶ 06 Finally, on the late Hon. R. Sampanthan, Leader of the Tamil National Alliance and our party, and a former Leader of the Opposition: he served this House for over half a century. His career was principled—anchored in justice, democracy, and the dignity and political rights of the Tamil people. He believed in meaningful power-sharing, reconciliation without erasure, accountability, and an honourable solution to the national question. He sought peace, not surrender; he spoke gently but with moral clarity.

¶ 07 He engaged constructively during the Indo-Lanka Accord period, urging both Colombo and New Delhi to uphold devolution meaningfully—implementing the Thirteenth Amendment and moving toward a federal arrangement—while affirming that the ultimate solution must come from within, through equality among communities.

¶ 08 As Leader of the Opposition, when President Maithripala Sirisena, during the constitutional crisis, appointed Mahinda Rajapaksa as Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Sampanthan went to the Supreme Court, leading to a reversal. His contribution was to the entire country, not only the Tamil community.

¶ 09 Let us reflect on what he stood for: meaningful reconciliation, equal rights, and a country where no community must beg for dignity. That is the unfinished work of this Parliament.

¶ 10 I also wish to record, in Tamil, that Mr. Sampanthan—though a highly accomplished lawyer—set aside a thriving practice with hundreds of cases to dedicate himself full-time to politics for the future of the Tamil people. He would say he had not stopped making arguments—he had taken up, for the long run, the “case” of Tamil political rights. He possessed extraordinary knowledge and recall, especially of demographic facts, and had the courage in his youth to lead protests—even physically obstructing military vehicles to demand re-opening of a road in the 1960s. After 2009, when the State claimed the Tamil struggle was extinguished, he steadfastly insisted on a democratic political solution and repeatedly secured mandates from Trincomalee, even at 87 in 2020.

¶ 11 His family sacrificed alongside him—his daughter and sons devoted themselves to his care while he worked for the Tamil people, and their home welcomed all who came to meet him. He taught us, even in the face of overwhelming majorities, to present our demands without fear. I conclude by praying for peace to the souls of all former Members we honour today. Thank you.