The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, thank you for permitting me under Standing Order 27(2) to ask a question from the Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President and Minister of Defence; Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; and Minister of Digital Economy.

¶ 02 From the 1980s to 2009, Tamil people living in the Northern and Eastern Provinces faced severe war impacts and economic crises. From baby formula and nutritional foods like eggs, to fuel, agricultural inputs, construction materials, and motor vehicles—successive governments in Sri Lanka imposed bans from 1990 to 2009. As a result, not only did the economy of the people in the North and East collapse, but severe malnutrition persisted. Even now, districts like Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu are included among those with serious malnutrition.

¶ 03 Amid this crisis in the 1990s, the LTTE established the Tamil Eelam Bank with foresight, operating like a banking and service arm for the people. Many Tamil people pawned their jewellery at the Tamil Eelam Bank to obtain funds for agriculture, businesses, and family events. During the final war, those who had pawned their jewellery could not retrieve it. The continuous war and displacement caused people to lose control over their gold.

¶ 04 During the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections, it was publicly stated by you and your members that jewellery placed with the Tamil Eelam Bank would be returned. More than a year after the elections, Tamil people who remain in hope have received no happy news. Will this Government, with humanity, be compassionate to the mental state of people who lost their livelihoods?

¶ 05 1. How many kilograms/pounds of gold jewellery were thus taken from Tamil people in the North and East? 2. When will these long-expected items be returned to the owners? 3. Has the Government announced any programme to restitute these items? 4. Will your Government at least release data on the total number of persons who pawned jewellery at the Tamil Eelam Bank in the North and East? 5. As this issue was a key election pledge, what urgent actions have you taken to ensure Tamil people are not deceived?