The Hon. Vijitha Herath - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I thank Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan for bringing this motion.

¶ 02 Our Government took office in September last year, inheriting a bankrupt, collapsed economy, unable to service debt, with rising poverty. We prioritized rescuing the economy—engaging with the IMF, advancing a poverty reduction drive, and securing debt restructuring. We have restructured international sovereign bonds and about 90% of bilateral debt, with a few countries remaining. While stabilizing the economy, we are also attending to other tasks.

¶ 03 A key factor in strengthening our economy is national unity. Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, Malay—we are all citizens, children of one mother. No ethnic, religious, or caste differences should divide us; we must unite to rebuild the nation. The people delivered a clear message after the Presidential Election: they are ready to journey with the current President and Government. For the first time, the new Government received significant mandates from the North, East, and hill-country communities. That mandate aims to build national unity and reconciliation to drive a strong economy. We have laid that foundation, learning from history. Notably, for the first time, there was no post-election violence. Those who opposed us faced no reprisals; we celebrated our victory peacefully, together with the people.

¶ 04 With a three-member interim Cabinet, we undertook many reforms and reliefs: fuel aid to fishermen, fertilizer support to farmers, reductions in fuel and electricity prices, and increases in welfare like Aswasuma. Within constraints, we provided proportional relief, consistent with our core policy tripod: eradicating poverty; digitizing the nation; and building a clean Sri Lanka. Without economic justice, talk of human rights or reconciliation is hollow; civil conflicts in both North and South sprang from economic inequality and injustice. We therefore ground our work in ensuring fair economic rights for all.

¶ 05 We then held the Parliamentary Election—the first in our history conducted without misuse of state power or resources, free of pre- and post-election violence. We also moved swiftly to pass necessary legal changes to hold the long-delayed local government elections. Although judicial processes caused some delays, we held them soon after taking office, democratically constituting local authorities.

¶ 06 We act under the Constitution—the supreme law protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity. No external pressure dictates our decisions. The Provincial Council (PC) system is provided in the Constitution. We have always maintained that the PC system alone cannot solve the national question—experience confirms this. Still, PC elections have faced legal obstacles: Parliament rejected the Delimitation Commission report under the new electoral system, rendering that framework inoperative until fresh legislation is enacted. We are working through Parliament to reopen the legal space; it takes time, but we will necessarily conduct PC elections in accordance with the Constitution and the people’s will.

¶ 07 We also stated clearly in our manifesto: the existing Constitution is outdated on fundamental rights and a stable solution to the national question; we will draft a new Constitution based on inputs from MPs and the public, and submit it to a referendum—unlike 1972 and 1978, which were never approved by the people. This is not overnight; the primary challenge is the economic crisis, compounded by global geopolitics and new tax regimes. While tackling these, we will move the constitutional process forward.

¶ 08 On human rights, we have no desire to violate anyone’s rights based on ethnicity or religion. We acknowledge there have been isolated, situational incidents—sometimes by police officers, sometimes by civilians—but not organized by our Government. We are committed to protecting fundamental rights and will strengthen and, if needed, introduce new laws to that end.

¶ 09 We have a Cabinet-approved plan to strengthen reconciliation. Our economic recovery plan is in short-, medium-, and long-term phases; likewise, a five-year reconciliation plan has been approved by Cabinet, with technical support from the UN in Sri Lanka, covering all provinces.

¶ 10 On accountability, it will be strengthened domestically; no external intervention is required because our institutions are now independent. The judiciary operates independently; the Judicial Service Commission and judges take decisions free of influence. Many long-stalled cases have been decided recently—the X-Press Pearl, corruption and criminal cases—reflecting judicial independence. We have depoliticized police leadership and restored the police as an independent institution, ending the practice of appointing individuals convicted by the Supreme Court to head law enforcement. With independent courts, police, and institutions, a credible domestic accountability mechanism is possible, acceptable internationally.

¶ 11 We have initiated investigations into emblematic cases: Easter Sunday attacks; abductions, assaults, and killings of journalists; and other political crimes—via independent teams and mechanisms.

¶ 12 We have advanced legal reforms to protect women and children: Cabinet has approved drafting a new law against domestic violence, consolidating prior amendments; reforms to marriage law affecting women have been approved; new child protection legislation to criminalize abuse and set penalties is in process. We work under UN human rights instruments, including on women’s rights, to protect all women, including in the plantations.

¶ 13 On the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA): we are not acting only because of the UNHRC. Our manifesto clearly promised to repeal it. A special committee led by President’s Counsel Riyansy Arsakularatne has prepared reforms; by end of this month we will finalize, and in early September we will gazette the repeal bill. Presently, PTA use is limited to combating organized crime and narcotics—not targeting Tamils or Muslims. Most recent detainees under its provisions have been Sinhala and linked to drugs and organized crime. Still, we accept it must go, and we will bring a stronger new law to counter organized crime and narcotics so the PTA is no longer used to detain such offenders due to gaps in existing laws.

¶ 14 On a Truth and Reconciliation Commission: we advocated one as far back as 26 May 2009, within a week of the war’s end—before Geneva called for it. A draft exists but overlaps with the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) and Office for Reparations; we are resolving technical overlaps and will bring the necessary legislation.

¶ 15 We are strengthening the OMP and Reparations Office, restoring funding and human resources to intensify tracing efforts. On mass graves—including Chemmany and other sites—impartial, court-supervised processes are ongoing, with necessary forensic and human resources. For the first time, skeletal remains have been displayed for public identification as per court directions, including by next of kin and associates. This is proceeding without interference.

¶ 16 We have recognized the right of families to commemorate their missing or dead—whether in Jaffna, Mullaitivu, the South, or Wellawatte—subject to a single condition: no separatist symbols or slogans. That is now law by gazette. We will also institute a National Day for Reconciliation to unite all citizens.

¶ 17 We have removed many military and police barriers nationwide, including around the Presidential Secretariat, Temple Trees, and in the North. We opened the road by Palaly Camp in Jaffna, closed for 34 years, now used freely by civilians and buses. Lands occupied for military purposes during the conflict are being released systematically; only those essential for national security will remain. A March 28 gazette aiming to regularize land claims was withdrawn recognizing a too-short time frame; we will proceed afresh to ensure rightful owners are restored lands swiftly.

¶ 18 For the first time, a Member of Parliament with a disability sits in this House via the National List. We are finalizing a new law to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and will bring it early next year after the Budget. Internationally, our own Minister Upali Pannilage chairs the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

¶ 19 Importantly, for the first time a Sri Lankan Government officially recognizes “Malaiyaha” people as a distinct cultural community. Hon. Shritharan’s motion also uses “Malaiyaha Tamil” terminology. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has recognized this term, a result of the Hatton Declaration. We will now incorporate this recognition in official documents—census, birth and death certificates—by making the necessary legal changes, with your support.

¶ 20 We are committed to delivering land titles as pledged in Hatton. On 03 August we arranged to issue 4,200 titles, but technical issues delayed; Minister Samantha Vidyaratna has stated around 5,000 can be issued soon. We will do so. We fully accept that Malaiyaha people are among our most oppressed citizens, with reduced access to education and health for decades. We are bound to complete this mission, which is why we received strong support from the hill-country and across districts like Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Matale, Ratnapura, and Jaffna.

¶ 21 We will continue accountability, human rights protection, and necessary legal reforms—not because Geneva tells us to, but because it is our duty. Development will include the North and East. We are establishing three investment zones in Kankesanthurai, Paranthan, and Mankulam; lands are identified and legal groundwork is underway. Jobs and fair economic opportunity will flow to the North and East.

¶ 22 We act as a sovereign state, safeguarding territorial integrity, taking decisions honestly without external dictates. That is our assurance.

¶ 23 Thank you.