The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna

¶ 01 Good afternoon, Hon. Presiding Member and my dear colleagues. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on the Budget.

¶ 02 I thank the NPP Government for initiatives in digitalization, innovation, entrepreneurship, rural development, and for focusing on rural healthcare. But I must also be frank. We keep pointing fingers—Government at Opposition and vice versa—over 76 years of history. Yet, we have not built a practical path forward. A key problem is the communication gap between our communities: many in the North cannot speak Sinhala; many in the South cannot speak Tamil.

¶ 03 In the 1970s, our voices were choked; we faced big problems in 1976; in 1983, our people were killed and hacked to pieces. As a child who sat the Grade 5 Scholarship in 1993, I had never even seen a Sinhala person; we were taught stereotypes about each other. After 2009, as our communities interacted more, we gained mutual understanding. In this House, we debate decently across party lines, but in our villages we still stoke communalism. For example, in Thayiddy, Jaffna, there is a Buddhist temple; five of six MPs wanted it demolished. I told the President not to allow that because destroying a temple, kovil or church will only revive communal hatred. Some Tamil politicians promise “we will somehow get Tamil Eelam,” while some Sinhala politicians say “we will ensure one country against their plan to divide.” Today, no Tamil wants to divide the country. I have been here 77 days; if I am denied speech, I am labelled a terrorist; I was even called insane. At last, I have time to speak.

¶ 04 I thank the Government of Anura Kumara Dissanayake for a good Budget—but I must say what may hurt a little. You mentioned the Jaffna Library. You allocated Rs. 100 million—only 0.0076% of the total capital expenditure of Rs. 1,315 billion—a pittance handed out like alms. For Northern Province local roads, Rs. 5,000 million—about 0.38% of capex—again, alms given because elections are coming, using our library for political point-scoring.

¶ 05 For Northern and Eastern resettlement after some 35 years of war—where I too lost and was displaced—you allocated only Rs. 1,500 million, just 0.01% of capex. Our homes were destroyed, lands seized, 45,000 of our people killed, and we get 0.01%—then you say, “we funded the North.”

¶ 06 For Vattuvagal bridge, Rs. 1,000 million—0.076% of capex. I am speaking of capital only, not recurrent. We still say thanks for these alms.

¶ 07 In health, with Rs. 382 billion total capital in the sector, for the North under PHSSP you allocate only about 0.66%—and 0.8% for the East—again alms. But Tamils are not prepared to live on alms. Our diaspora can bring in billions if you repeal the PTA; we can bring money rather than you begging from India or China and giving us 0.01% of that as alms. The President comes and says he has allocated alms to the North. This is disgraceful and deeply disappointing.

¶ 08 I also hear of an industrial park in Jaffna; of Rs. 500 million for technology zones, you allocate Rs. 300 million across three Northern sites—just 1.4% of total industry allocation. Give us the KKS cement factory—we will build it and supply you cement, as we once supplied sugar from Kinniya, cement from the North, and other products. After taking our lifeblood and decimating us, you now give us 0.0-something alms—was that why you wanted our votes? Many in the North mistakenly voted believing the President would deliver on the 13th Amendment. We ended up with MPs who cannot even read a paper properly.

¶ 09 We Sinhalese and Tamils want to live together; I do not see Sinhalese as enemies. But from my first day here, the chair has insulted me; the system treats me as an enemy; in the fights between Government and Opposition, we suffer—this is not new. When independence came in 1948, the British knew Sinhalese and Tamils would be set against each other. Yet my wish is to use even your diversified funds for genuine needs.

¶ 10 Now, your MP Pradeepan had three meetings; his son crashed a government vehicle. Fine—keep the vehicles; we do not need them. In the North and East, coconut prices are Rs. 250 due to whitefly infestations; where is your Agriculture Minister in the North?

¶ 11 For doctors: to buy a car by saving Rs. 50,000 a month would take 40 years. I asked the Health Minister to talk to us—why fear dialogue? When I rise, the mic is switched off. Why fear? I can show, with accounts, that your allocations are alms.

¶ 12 We want Sinhalese and Tamils to live together. But neither this Government nor a future Government seems ready to resolve core issues. You said you would repeal the PTA; now the Justice Ministry asks detainees under section 71 for documents—shameful.

¶ 13 Let me say this in Sinhala: Our brothers and sisters—about 55,000—were killed by people from within our society. Then we are terrorists? In 1988-89, about 88,000 were killed; bombs exploded at the Temple of the Tooth. Are you terrorists? Was Rohana Wijeweera a terrorist? You say only Prabhakaran was terrorist—because we are Tamil and you are Sinhala. But our generation does not think like that; nor do I. We eat together here daily.

¶ 14 To be honest, almost no one is present now. Some of our MPs do not even come at this time. They play games with you and tell our people, “We will somehow get Tamil Eelam.” If I say “do not demolish a temple,” I’m branded anti-people, and they are made heroes. I speak from the heart. For 77 days I could not speak here. Clean Sri Lanka—well done.

¶ 15 [Time indicated]

¶ 16 Clean Sri Lanka has Rs. 5,000 million. But the nation that burned Asia’s greatest library—our Jaffna Library holding works of Swami Vipulananda and Mahatma Gandhi—now gives us 1.2%. In the Clean Sri Lanka program, there is not a single Tamil or Muslim member, yet you give us 1.2%—fine. Another joke: for housing for IDPs, Rs. 1,500 million. In our islands—Nainativu, Delft—people die for lack of drinking water, while you plan to spend Rs. 41,234 million for water supplies in the South and allocate Rs. 20,000 million for it. The Iranamadu project in the North lies dry. You do not know our people’s pain. When we speak truth, you say we are doing politics and playing games—because truth hurts your backs and their hearts.

¶ 17 If you do not resolve our ethnic problem and rebuild our destroyed community, there will never be lasting peace. I speak with a pure heart. In the last election I received 85% of the Northern vote—show me one of your MPs who did that. Even YouTube shows 87%—because I speak truth.

¶ 18 I came to this Parliament from the hospital, not waving flags. In 91 days I contested independently and was elected. If I remain here, every act of corruption will be exposed. Thank you for the time, Hon. Presiding Member.