The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim. Hon. Presiding Member, I am pleased to join the debate on the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill under the Ministry of Justice and National Integration.

¶ 02 The Ministry of Justice and National Integration is vital. Beyond upholding justice, it should frame laws enabling all communities to live with equality and equal rights. The people voted overwhelmingly for the NPP in three successive elections. The Justice Ministry must now fulfil the promises: abolish the PTA and ensure equal rights.

¶ 03 The PTA has been used to detain even innocent people. For unity and peaceful coexistence, I urge the immediate repeal of the PTA. You also promised a new Constitution; no steps have been taken yet. I urge the Justice Minister and all concerned to begin that process.

¶ 04 On national integration: at a Ministry consultative meeting, I proposed that the Clean Sri Lanka task force must include representation from all ethnicities. As constituted, 18 members belonged to one ethnicity. This is unacceptable. I asked the Deputy Minister to include Tamil and Muslim members. The Minister said the Deputy Minister would answer; the Deputy Minister said Clean Sri Lanka comes under the Presidential Secretariat. Whoever it is under, if actions are not ethnically inclusive, the Ministry of Justice and National Integration must correct it. Otherwise, equality and integration remain rhetoric. I urge immediate inclusion of Tamil and Muslim members in that task force—even if they are your supporters, inclusion is essential.

¶ 05 Furthermore, extremist rhetoric is a matter of concern. Religious leaders should not promote racism. Anyone inciting racism should be arrested and produced before the law, regardless of who they are. The Government came to eliminate racism and has improved the situation, which we acknowledge, but racism must be eradicated entirely. The Justice Ministry should bring a new law to criminalize incitement to racism and political rabble-rousing that foments communal hatred.

¶ 06 On local government elections: when the Government brought the Bill on the new ward-based system, our Leader Rauff Hakeem and our Secretary Nizam Kariapper requested an all-party consultation to fix defects before enactment. The Government refused and proceeded. The results showed all parties suffered distortions: paying Rs. 2.5 million for crossovers, anomalies where parties winning many wards lost overall and vice versa. The system is defective. I urge a new method for local polls.

¶ 07 I also request a separate court for Irakkamam in Ampara District, or to attach Irakkamam to the Akkaraipattu judicial zone. About 18,000 people live there, 94 percent Tamil-speaking. Until 2012 it was under the Akkaraipattu judicial zone. Without notice, it was moved to the Ampara zone where Sinhala is the court language. This violates basic rights, forcing Tamil speakers to litigate in a language unfamiliar to them, incurring heavy translation costs and wasting court time. Geographically between the two zones, Irakkamam should be in the Tamil-language Akkaraipattu zone, or be given its own court. I submit copies of the related requests.

¶ 08 Lastly, deep-sea fishermen from Trincomalee to Pottuvil face marauding “sea thieves” from Batticaloa who cut nets and steal catches. Thousands are affected, especially in Ampara, Valachchenai, Kalmunai, Akkaraipattu. Going to sea in a small craft costs about Rs. 400,000 per trip; theft devastates livelihoods. I urge the Justice Ministry, with the Fisheries Ministry, to arrest these culprits and take legal action.

¶ 09 Thank you.