The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, before my speech, I congratulate Professor Nishan Canagarajah, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, knighted in the 2026 King’s New Year Honours. Born in Sri Lanka and an alumnus of St. John’s College, he brings honour to us.

¶ 02 On today’s Regulation: allowing female employees over 18 to work before 6.00 a.m. and after 6.00 p.m. in F&B with proper legal safeguards is positive. I wonder how such work occurred so far without clear legal backing. Our party supports greater opportunities and equal rights for women in employment and politics.

¶ 03 On education reforms: there is wide debate and we have serious criticisms—especially at the rural level, curricular content, and history syllabi. We met the Prime Minister this morning as the ITAK group to discuss this. However, we strongly condemn the vicious personal attacks against the Prime Minister, particularly as a female politician. We stand in solidarity with her against such unacceptable campaigns, even as we differ on her education agenda. At times, attacks seem to come more from within the Government ranks; I caution the PM to be wary—some seeking her chair may be fuelling this campaign while pretending to advise her.

¶ 04 On Batticaloa’s Karaitheevu (Kar Munai) lands: Hon. Hisbullah recently made claims, including that evidence of Muslim residence was erased. Karaitheevu has historically been a Tamil area. In 2023, when attempts were made to settle majority-community people there, my party colleagues and I stood on-site and drove away those attempts, including officials and the army present. Hon. Hisbullah did not come then. Officials tell me that some from Vakarai–Koralai Pattu North displaced by war have been given alternate lands; keeping those and also claiming their original lands is not just. Karaitheevu belongs to Tamils. Let us not bring “solutions” to Parliament without proper local inquiry.

¶ 05 On Batticaloa–Colombo rail: I have heard of governments launching new services and lines; but this is the first I hear of abolishing existing services. Four services from Batticaloa to Colombo have been reduced to one—this “record” belongs to the NPP Government. The morning train that used to depart at 6.10 a.m. now leaves at 5.00 a.m. Passengers must go to Kaluwanchikudy/Kallady-Kal Oya, change to a Trincomalee-coming train, and again change—same on return. Previously, I had ‘Pulathisi’ extended to Batticaloa; now you have limited it to Fridays and Sundays only, and cancelled the 8.15 p.m. Batticaloa night mail. While we seek to start domestic air services to Batticaloa with the President, you cut existing rail, citing load limits on the bridge/track—yet oil tankers still come. I strongly condemn this harmful cut to people’s services.

¶ 06 Thank you.