The Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I appreciate your allowing me to raise my Question under Standing Order 27(2).

¶ 02 Despite Sri Lanka being surrounded by the sea, a shortage of common table salt has become a pressing topic in recent days. Traditionally, large quantities of sea salt have been produced in the Northern Province, particularly at Elephant Pass (Aalimankadai) and Paranthan salterns. Recently, Ministers and Members from the South in the Government that came to power claiming to oppose corruption announced exports of salt from Paranthan.

¶ 03 After your Government assumed office, management structures of public institutions have been disrupted by politicized interventions, transferring many experienced staff and appointing inexperienced party supporters without management qualifications. At Paranthan saltern, a workers’ protest has continued for about 12 days due to such transfers. Reports state that workers have been forcibly evicted from the saltern with Police assistance and denied employment for over 12 days, violating labour rules and treating workers poorly.

¶ 04 Accordingly, will the Hon. Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development inform this House:

¶ 05 1. Why was the traditional “Elephant Pass Salt” renamed “Raja Salt”? Is this a form of targeted suppression of Tamils? 2. Do you accept that current production at Elephant Pass saltern is much lower than in 2024? 3. Do you accept that a management change was made three months ago at Elephant Pass by your Government? 4. Do you accept that due to transfers—and as protesting workers have been kept from work for 12 days—production has significantly declined or ceased? 5. Can you confirm that Cabinet has approved importing salt now? 6. Do you accept that a Government formed by trade unions is now brutally suppressing workers, as seen at Elephant Pass where workers were expelled and denied employment? 7. Will you immediately meet the workers, accept their just demands, and restore normal salt production? 8. Do you accept that salt production in Sri Lanka has sharply declined under your administration, and will you restore normal operations at Elephant Pass? 9. Will you ensure workers are treated with dignity and provided basic facilities?

¶ 06 Thank you.