The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, I am pleased to participate in the Committee Stage debate on the allocations of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development—one of the key ministries capable of uplifting the national economy. Finance and planning are essential to growth. We will support good plans brought by this Ministry and are ready to work to improve the economy.

¶ 02 Some comments in this House are embarrassing. After the war ended, there was a time we lived in fear—even MPs, as Hon. Sunil Handunnetti amusingly noted. But the reason the country is now in this condition is the grave mistakes in fiscal and economic planning by past governments. Fifteen years after the war, no meaningful opportunities were given to our people in the North and East to improve their livelihoods or to integrate their growth into national development. Instead of productive projects, billions were invested in unnecessary ones.

¶ 03 Our people were displaced, detained in camps, then resettled under tin sheets under trees for years, while past rulers, without proper plans, built a lavish Presidential Palace in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, at huge cost—lying unused to date—without caring for those living under trees. In Mullaitivu, orphaned children at “Chencholai” were confined in 10-by-10 rooms in Vavuniya, yet a palace was built. I urge the Government to repurpose that palace immediately for the people’s welfare and economic development.

¶ 04 To truly uplift the North-East economy, we must strengthen village economies and make our people producers. To do that, small irrigation tanks must be rehabilitated to expand production. In the Northern Province, especially in the Vanni, boundary stones placed by various government departments now prevent use of tanks and paddy fields. The relevant ministries must urgently intervene to release lands, tanks and fields for public agricultural use.

¶ 05 We speak of a production economy, yet we spend large sums of dollars importing medicines needed for traditional medicine. Establish a factory in our province to produce such medicines and revive our traditional medical sector. Even 15 years after the war, pre-war factories in our area remain unrestored. Start new factories to provide jobs to youth.

¶ 06 This Parliament should set policies to move towards a production economy to uplift impoverished communities and the nation. The only institution that enhanced knowledge and skills of traditional physicians—Lanka Siddha Ayurveda Medical College—remains closed. Please reopen it.

¶ 07 Local authorities in our region cannot assess properties adequately and collect revenue due to lack of assessment officers. Enable them to improve income to deliver basic services to grassroots people.

¶ 08 [Winding up]

¶ 09 Please do not say we always ask for more money. Consider our people: after a 30-year war and 15 years since, they have still not recovered economically like others in the country. Therefore, we ask for more funds this year for the Northern and Eastern Provinces to strengthen our people’s economy.