The Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, today we debate the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Establishment and Maintenance of Illegal Detention Centres and Torture Chambers under the Batalanda Housing Scheme. Before that, let me say: one must know one’s limits, or else, though the mouth is loud, one dies like the frog that does not know its size.

¶ 02 Also, workers’ basic salary increased from March to April; someone posted, “My basic was 33,340 in March; 49,005 in April.” Thanks are due not to the Government alone but to the thousands who toiled to bring it to power. Any gains are not accidental; they came from people’s struggle and sacrifice.

¶ 03 Now, people ask why we speak on Batalanda and who created such times. Multiple commission reports exist; study them. We love life and democracy; we do not wish for anyone to suffer. But because of environments created by “fathers,” today’s sons and daughters struggle to understand what happened. Learn from the people—if you cannot learn from your party, learn from the people, or even from the Government: why we make sacrifices despite the mandate. It is to build a country for our children.

¶ 04 From the Batalanda Report, as from others, we must learn. When a political movement organizes youth with the people, traditional leftists and those in power will not like it. In 1978, when Rohana Wijeweera sought to contest local polls, the Government did not allow it; yet we organized workers, students, taught politics, and in 1981 secured 8% in Colombo Development Councils—a sign of people’s support. Then fear arose: in the 1982 presidential election Rohana Wijeweera came third, surpassing other left leaders. Thereafter the national referendum replaced general elections; then by-elections were manipulated. Wijeweera democratically challenged this in court—a democratic leader acting lawfully.

¶ 05 After 1982, Black July erupted; we saw who inflamed chauvinism, who burned property with State backing, and made Tamils refugees. Then, by stoking racism, they suppressed democratic parties and banned the JVP and other lefts. The Commission records that the JVP had no connection to the racist riots of 1983; even Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe testified that neither JVP nor LSSP activists were found guilty of violence. Yet the JVP was banned, suppressing its democratic rights, and State terror was unleashed across communities. Now some say if there was a war, there had to be camps and punishments—even against schoolchildren of 14–16. Do they not feel the pain of mothers like those of Embilipitiya? The Opposition does not even feel that.

¶ 06 March 8th is International Women’s Day. On 8 March 1988 at Karapitiya Hospital, Deepika Muthuhettigama and Chaminee Geethanjali were arrested and then subjected to repeated sexual violence and murdered. Did such crimes have to happen in any “war”? How many mothers and sisters were violated and killed? Justice must be done now for their suffering, and for all across North, South, and East. We learned from these: we must ensure justice for all.

¶ 07 Thank you.