The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna

¶ 01 Innocent children of 8 or 9—how can they be married off? That is wrong no matter who does it.

¶ 02 In 1983, ethnic riots broke out; from then until 1990, our people were massacred. Only then did we take up arms. In 1990, our national leader told people to leave with their belongings within a day—he did not say leave your belongings. We did not commit mass killings; rather our blood flowed in the East. In some places our temples were demolished and other structures built. Wrong is wrong, whoever does it.

¶ 03 Recently on Al Jazeera TV, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was clearly contradicted: in 2009 there was genocide against us—my father and brother disappeared. To this day, the Sinhalese society has not delivered justice to us.

¶ 04 To my brother Ilangkumaran who said international investigations are not needed: perhaps he follows party lines. But the TNA, which was in opposition with us, also failed us for 16 years, while aligning with Ranil in 2022 during “Gota go home,” undermining international investigations. Our community rejected that. I have suffered greatly; I am here because of the sacrifices of my brothers. As a government MP today, I say: take 2009 and Saharan’s atrocities and all racist crimes to international courts. Everyone knows politicians do deals.

¶ 05 After “good governance,” Gota was ousted in 2022 and Ranil came. Yet no community has delivered justice to my decimated people. AKD has said he would not go for international investigations. If votes in Jaffna go to his party, they belong to the leader, to the 44,000 fighters and to our remaining people.

¶ 06 Hospitals like Puthumathalan were shelled; UN Human Rights has named Gen. Shavendra Silva; we even had an online interaction with UNHRC via Zoom, and I have already complained that Parliament has denied me chances to speak for 77 days. I raise that with UNHRC.

¶ 07 In Gaza, we see parallels to what Gota and Mahinda did—directing people to “safe zones” and then bombing them. UNHRC says 40,000 of our people were killed. I wish to be the single voice for Tamils today. I do not fear death. If you cannot protect me, I can protect myself; otherwise, send my body to my brothers.

¶ 08 Some Muslim Members have made remarks about us—we are not against any ethnicity. Do not insult our leadership or call me mentally unsound. I ask for decorum in this House.