The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member.

¶ 02 The Hon. Member who spoke before me addressed education well, including some issues in the Eastern Province and among Tamil-speaking people. As we debate the Ministry of Education here in Committee, the Hon. Prime Minister is present.

¶ 03 Hon. Prime Minister, we hear that History is to be made an optional subject. I urge that History be given due importance and that the true history of this country be taught to the people and to future generations.

¶ 04 This includes: that Tamil kings ruled various regions of this island 200–300–1000 years ago; that when the British introduced a new Constitution, Tamil people did not accept aspects of it; that as far back as 1926, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike spoke of federal-type arrangements; in all constitutional moments including the Donoughmore Commission, how Tamils expressed their views; and from Independence in 1948 onwards, the injustices suffered by Tamils. If such content is included and History is taught properly, future generations can grow up believing that all ethnic groups are equal. Otherwise, as today’s Archaeology Department narratives indicate, our people will continue to suffer for another hundred years.

¶ 05 In recent weeks, Government actions have hurt the Tamil community. Only a permanent political solution can heal these wounds. Hon. Prime Minister, I repeat my request—please include true history from the era of kings up to Independence in the school History curriculum.

¶ 06 Further, I must address a recent controversy involving the Department of Archaeology and media reporting. I regret how some media reported it. I even harbor doubts about whether certain sudden actions by the Archaeology Department in Batticaloa District, which followed two weeks after the Trincomalee incident, were done with the Government’s knowledge. Archaeology has had problems since the inception of the Department.

¶ 07 Some media reports were entirely wrong. It was reported that the Valachchenai Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman was ordered by court to reinstall a nameboard. That is not what happened. Hon. Presiding Member, this is a matter of national importance. Over the past few days this has created inter-ethnic discord. Please allow me a minute to clarify.

¶ 08 Under the Pradeshiya Sabhas Act, when any Department installs nameboards, it must obtain approval or at least inform the Pradeshiya Sabha. Without any such notice, installing nameboards violates the Act. Today’s court order clearly states that the authority to install such nameboards lies with the Chairman of the Pradeshiya Sabha.