The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, when you spoke in Tamil, I think everybody was shocked.

¶ 02 Thank you, Madam, for the opportunity to speak on this Adjournment Motion aimed at empowering small and medium exporters in the Northern Province. I support the Motion with a vital amendment: extend the scope to include the Eastern Province. The economic and social realities of the Northern and Eastern Provinces are deeply intertwined; challenges are similar and so is their untapped potential. Both are rich in culture, traditions and natural resources, but decades of conflict, displacement and neglect have left them behind. For inclusive national growth, we must empower SMEs in these regions to become exporters.

¶ 03 I draw attention to a critical point: under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution — Provincial Council List — promotion of agriculture, fisheries, co-operative and cottage industries, and local economic development fall within Provincial Council jurisdiction. The framers intended provincial economic development to be driven from the ground up. Ignoring this is a policy failure and a constitutional abdication.

¶ 04 Key export-potential sectors: - Culinary heritage and agro exports: Jaffna traditional foods, organic products, preserved seafood have high demand among the diaspora. With training, packaging and marketing, they can be strong export brands. For example, near Jaffna Courts at “Rasavin Wanam”, a small boutique sells “elluppahu”, a nutritious black sweet not found elsewhere; such items must be promoted. - Handloom and traditional textiles: a cultural treasure with premium potential in sustainable fashion and ethical trade, if we invest in modernization, design, innovation and e-commerce. - Palmyrah-based products: jaggery, vinegar, fibre, handicrafts — currently informal and fragmented; need organized support, quality certification and research-led value addition. - Seafood and marine products: crabs, cuttlefish, dried fish — but we lack cold chain, export licensing, and post-harvest processing support.

¶ 05 There is a missing partner — Provincial Councils. For too long, Northern and Eastern Provincial Councils have not been functioning. Without elected representation and institutional capacity, localized development is limited. I call upon the Government to immediately hold Provincial Council Elections so councils become active partners best placed to understand local needs, mobilize rural entrepreneurs, and coordinate support.

¶ 06 Therefore, expand export development programmes to both North and East; establish SME export incubation zones in Jaffna, Vavuniya, Batticaloa and Ampara; support handloom clusters, palmyrah co-operatives and seafood collectives with modern tools, marketing training and credit; facilitate diaspora engagement via targeted trade fairs and digital campaigns; and restore democratic provincial governance by holding long-overdue elections. Only then can we build the vital Centre–Province–People partnership for lasting development.

¶ 07 Let us see the North and East not merely as recovering regions, but as engines of growth. Believe in our people’s skills, resilience and dreams. Provide institutions, infrastructure and inspiration to connect them to the world as confident sub-exporters. Thank you.