The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.

¶ 02 Hon. Deputy Speaker, the people elected this Government with great expectations. You have a moral responsibility to fulfil them, not merely to criticize the past 75 years. On essential commodities, people still cannot access items at fair prices—rice is still costly; salt shortages could have been resolved within weeks, including by targeted imports. Please act swiftly to ensure fair prices.

¶ 03 On Mannar: the Bishop of Mannar, Rt. Rev. Denny Cletus, has written to the Hon. Prime Minister about 18,900 hectares gazetted under the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, encompassing long-inhabited villages and churches. Mannar Island is of international strategic importance. Gazetting over 18,000 hectares this way could stifle tourism and commerce. Please review this.

¶ 04 In 2009–2010, 237 teachers completed training at the Jaffna, Kopay Teacher Training College but have not received official certificates. As the Hon. Prime Minister is also Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, please resolve this urgently.

¶ 05 On university library assistants nationwide: over 400 are affected. Under UGC Circulars 975 and 985 (2012), pay restructuring brought Library Assistant posts under “unskilled” categories, although appointments require GCE O/L, two years’ experience, and a library diploma. This has reduced and humiliated their pay. Those appointed after 2012 face this; those before 2012 have different treatment. Please regularize this fairly.

¶ 06 Mannar floods: Mannar District, especially the island, was badly affected recently. Temporary cuts and culverts made to drain floodwater have not been properly restored. Under EU grant funds (~Rs. 1.5 billion), we began a drainage project which has stalled. Please restart the project to protect the area from future floods. Also, promised compensation to affected farmers has not been paid.

¶ 07 Vavuniya: Municipal waste is being dumped in Salambakulam village, near the university—within 500 meters—along with hospital bio-waste and body parts. Residents suffer severely. Under the previous Government, our pleas were ignored. When people protested, we asked them to allow time to discuss with the new Government. Please arrange an alternative site through the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government.

¶ 08 Myanmar refugees: Fisherfolk in Mullaitivu rescued arrivals from Myanmar and handed them to the Navy. Later they were housed in Trincomalee. When I went to meet them—with Divisional Secretary’s permission—police blocked access, citing phone instructions. They lacked basic items like mats and pillows; when we tried to donate, we were told to leave items outside before they were given. We trust the new President, Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who has long experience in this House. We hear these refugees may be returned to Myanmar. That would violate international law. Over a million Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh; many face persecution. Those who reached our shores should be handled under international norms via UNHCR, resettled in third countries willing to take them, as happened even under President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Do not force-return them to danger. Facilitate visits and assistance by MPs and NGOs; they need essentials for adults and children. I have written to the President; I request that the letter be placed on record. Thank you.