Hon. Ismail Muththu Mohamed

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, I am pleased to participate in today’s debate concerning the levies on onions and potatoes. In our district, big onions were once produced in significant quantities, but production declined due to seed shortages, and affected farmers lost interest.

¶ 03 Leaving that aside, I wish to raise another important matter. After the recently concluded local government elections — held amid many issues — ruling and opposition parties formed councils after much contestation. Whether they like it or not, these parties must now jointly run councils, which brings many complications. People elected representatives to address the needs of their localities and to petition Government.

¶ 04 However, an unfortunate situation has arisen where none of the elected members can attend District Development Committee meetings or Divisional Coordinating Committee meetings. By Circular 3/2025 of the Ministry of Home Affairs, only the Chairman, Vice Chairman and two members may attend. Thus other representatives from those areas cannot participate. In councils, only the ruling party’s Chairman and Vice Chairman are in those meetings; the Opposition gets no opportunity.

¶ 05 Hon. Presiding Member, how can those members raise issues and when? Therefore, amend this Circular so that local people’s representatives can meet with the heads of development committees at least monthly or bimonthly to convey people’s problems and needs — not only to the central Government, but also at district level.

¶ 06 Also, the seating shortage in local authorities exists in many districts. Here in this House, there are 159 Government Members; some have been facilitated to sit even on Opposition benches due to lack of space. Please create similar accommodations in those local bodies.

¶ 07 Next, in Vavuniya District, we planned a felicitation on the 18th for 167 students who obtained three As at GCE A/L and nine As at O/L. We requested permission to use a school hall; it was refused. We consider this an insult to the students and the event. We asked for the hall to celebrate and motivate them, but it was rejected. Is there a circular that prohibits this?

¶ 08 I will conclude. It was not even a school day, but a Saturday. The hall could have been given. Because it was refused, we had to hold the event elsewhere. Is there a circular barring this? I ask the Hon. Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Training to clarify. I take my leave. Thank you.