The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. Today, amendments have been proposed, including the Order under the Stamp Duty (Special Provisions) Act and Regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act. Updating laws in a timely and practical manner is essential for good governance and public welfare.

¶ 02 On stamp duty, revenue to Provincial Councils enables provision of basic services to people in each province. For the Northern and Eastern Provinces, which have low own-revenue, this can help address essential needs better.

¶ 03 Regarding the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, I wish to highlight an issue: traditional medicine, particularly Siddha medicine practiced by many Tamils in the North and East, is adversely affected. While Ayurveda medicines are adequately produced locally, Siddha medicines are not. Two universities—the University of Jaffna and the Eastern University (Trincomalee campus)—operate Siddha medical faculties. Their graduates face shortages of essential Siddha medicines.

¶ 04 When importing Siddha medicines, particularly from India, they are sometimes classified as cosmetic items rather than “medicines,” attracting higher duties and making them expensive domestically. This hampers hospitals and practitioners providing Siddha care. Under the new Regulations, please ensure Siddha medicines are properly classified as “medicines,” not cosmetics, so people can access them at affordable prices.

¶ 05 On the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Bill: from 1 April 2025, the minimum daily wage is set at Rs. 1,080 and monthly at Rs. 27,000; from 1 January next year, the monthly minimum is Rs. 30,000 and daily Rs. 1,200. In the severe economic crisis, this is important. Crucially, the increase should be added to the basic salary, not only paid as an allowance, so that it benefits pensions and other entitlements. While it may still be insufficient, adding it to the basic is significant. I welcome this amendment.

¶ 06 I also raise a structural issue: there is no legal regulatory mechanism to oversee private educational institutions. Free education introduced in 1945 uplifted literacy; State schools are vital, but private institutions also contribute. Yet, without regulation, many students receive substandard education and are misled. Just as private health institutions are regulated, we need a legal framework to monitor standards in private education—teacher qualifications, basic infrastructure, sanitation, safe water, ventilation, lighting—especially in tuition centres, some of which operate in tin sheds used by animals at night, risking disease. Parliament should create a regulatory framework, with enforceable authority at district level through education departments.

¶ 07 Lastly, on health training: in the Northern Province there are two nursing training schools—Jaffna and Vavuniya. The Vavuniya Nursing School, established in 2008 during the war, has remained under the supervision of Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital, while its operational funding comes through the Vavuniya Regional Health Services Directorate. Each batch trains about 75–100 students who serve countrywide. It would be better to bring the Vavuniya Nursing Training School under the supervision of the Vavuniya District General Hospital (now a tertiary care institution) with appropriate funding and resources, rather than keeping it tied to Anuradhapura. I request the necessary administrative changes. Thank you.