The Hon. (Dr.) Sellaththamby Thilaganathan

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I thank Hon. Shritharan for bringing the Adjournment Motion on human rights issues faced by Tamils in Sri Lanka. Such Motions help establish whether under our administration there are human rights violations or other problems.

¶ 02 Recently, a young man named Kapilan from Muthiyankaddu tragically died. I extend condolences to his family. It was a painful, unforgettable incident. I visited, and his relatives did not protest against me or my companions; they know this Government sincerely wishes well for Tamil people. They considered it an isolated incident. His aunt said the house opposite had been built by the Army, and many houses there had been built by soldiers in the past. The Army camp, once amidst the settlement, has now been removed at our request. The 30-acre camp land, I believe, has been vacated and, as told by the Divisional Secretary, the boundary fence is to be given to the local temple to build a perimeter wall. Subsequently, the district land is to be handed over fully to the Mullaitivu GA, and the temple will be granted its land. There was no ethnic or religious incitement — it was an unexpected tragedy.

¶ 03 On that basis, the Tamil Arasu Kachchi held a hartal across the North. Our economically struggling people were further hurt by such actions. Hon. Shritharan, formerly an economics teacher, should have known that a Monday hartal harms traders, patients, students and daily life. It was staged for personal political aims. Most in the North did not support it. Tamil people in the North stand with the NPP — that is clear. Those who truly love the people will not accept separatism; in Mullaitivu, no Tamil asks for federalism or a separate state; everywhere I go, the poor ask to restore their livelihoods.

¶ 04 In Mullaitivu, cultivators using channel water were denied fertilizer subsidy; I brought Hon. Deputy Minister Susil Ranasinghe, discussed with farmers and secured the subsidy for 1,200 acres. Under the Muthiyankaddu scheme, about 54 tanks servicing 200 acres did not receive seasonal water; I spoke to the Deputy Minister and got water released, improving livelihoods. Through Government we are taking development to Vanni. We will develop our region. Thank you.