The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member. Today we debate the National Minimum Wage of Workers (Amendment) Bill. Hon. Radhakrishnan has moved an amendment as follows:

¶ 02 “2(2) Notwithstanding anything, in relation to plantation workers, the minimum wage referred to in the aforesaid amendment shall be Rs. 1,700 per day or a corresponding monthly wage.”

¶ 03 I request that this be included in the Bill. Beyond today’s topic, allow me to mention another matter: this is July — the month when Tamil political prisoners were massacred in Welikada Prison. I urge the Government to investigate and I will note some facts.

¶ 04 For Tamil liberation and rights, leaders like Thangathurai and Commander Kuttimani first took up arms. They were arrested by the Navy on 5 April 1981 at Paruthithurai Manalkadu beach. On 25–27 July 1983, a total of 53 Tamil political prisoners and civilians were brutally killed by Sinhala thugs, with police and prison officials complicit. Eyes of Kuttimani and others were gouged; the killings continued for two days. Names included Thangathurai, Kuttimani, Jagan, Nadesadasan, Devan, Sivapatham, Srikumar, Mariyampillai, Kumarakulasingam, Rajasundaram, and a doctor. In 1982 Kuttimani was nominated as the MP for Vaddukoddai, but the Commissioner of Prisons did not release him.

¶ 05 Let me recall what our leaders said in court. Thangathurai said: “We are not lovers of violence or lunatics; we are fighters for our nation’s liberation!” Commander Kuttimani said: “By hanging our founder and leader Kuttimani, thousands of Kuttimanis will arise; you cannot stop it.” As he said, in 1983 our youth supported armed struggle.

¶ 06 During Black July 1983, 2,000 Tamils were killed; more than 4,000 Tamil shops in Colombo were destroyed — it was an organized pogrom. The LTTE declared this month as Great Heroes’ Month. I urge the Government, which investigates other killings including Easter Sunday, to also investigate the Welikada prison massacre during J.R. Jayewardene’s rule.

¶ 07 Turning to Mannar’s Pesalai and surrounding villages, people are fearful due to two issues: mineral sand mining and wind power projects. Unknown parties keep coming for ilmenite; people oppose, but activities continue. The environment of Mannar town is affected by wind projects. Responsible Ministers must go there and speak to the people to find solutions. Otherwise, outsiders coming for sand and wind projects will create conflicts with locals.

¶ 08 In Mannar, sea and land levels are about the same. The President or responsible Ministers must consult local representatives and people to resolve these issues. Now, people are frightened by unexpected arrivals — morning or evening — and cannot go about daily lives. The Government must act immediately. We spoke with the Government Agent; he is in the middle and does not know how to stop it under Government decisions. Therefore, leading Ministers must go, talk to representatives, and put a stop. Immediately halt ilmenite mining by engaging the Pesalai Pradeshiya Sabha. If not stopped, people will confront those who come and we do not know what will happen. Please resolve these issues. Thank you.