The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna

¶ 01 My allotted seven minutes became six, now five.

¶ 02 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.

¶ 03 To my Muslim brothers: today I speak about our Muslim friends in Puttalam. I am not someone who jumped a wall to eat illicit dosai, nor someone who deceived a family about a child’s marriage. I am a Tamil and a Hindu who respects all faiths.

¶ 04 To the Hon. MP for Puttalam: shame. Your own Muslim community still stands in floodwater. On the 6th, 319 families sent me videos—knees in water—saying they have not received even the Rs. 25,000 cleaning grant. That is a pittance compared to losses of Rs. 200,000, 300,000, a million or more. In the South, people are given Rs. 50,000–75,000. Why can’t your people receive even Rs. 25,000? Is it to deny them this small relief?

¶ 05 These 319 families from Puludivayal 601/4, Virudodai, Grama Niladhari Musafir (a Muslim), under DS Mundal (Imesha Perera), have written that water still stands above their heads. Our Muslim friends plead with me to speak; some criticize me on social media, but I will speak.

¶ 06 I also raise that garbage collected in Colombo is being dumped in Aruvakkadu, a Muslim area—this is disgraceful. Your political time is limited; do right by your community. Reports say some local members give only Rs. 25,000 to those supporting their side—shameful.

¶ 07 Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy and our MPs are not traitors; we stand by our people. I came to Parliament independently, not by sycophancy. I have not used slurs in DCC meetings; I complained when foul language was used in this House. Yet those who cannot utter a line about Vali North land release or the Thaiyiddy temple issues dare to hurl abuse.

¶ 08 Even a goat would protest being compared to some of these individuals. They cannot speak about Army-held lands, or a Rs. 169 million indoor stadium controversy. I will continue to speak for justice for all, including our Muslim brothers in need.

¶ 09 Thank you.