The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna

¶ 01 Good morning to you! Sir, I am really thankful to you for giving me this opportunity to raise this matter of Privilege in Parliament.

¶ 02 Sir, I have given three letters. Now, I will read the letter which was given on the 08th of April, 2025. I have given another letter on the 09th and again, I came to your office and gave a letter dated 21st of April. I will read the letter dated 08th April, as you have instructed me. Again, thank you so much, Sir, I really appreciate it. The letter states,

¶ 03 "Subject: Request to Restore My Parliamentary Privileges and Address the Misleading Allegations Raised Against Me.

¶ 04 Hon. Speaker,

¶ 05 I, Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna, Member of Parliament and the Leader of Independent Group 17, respectfully write to bring to your kind attention a matter of serious concern pertaining to the restriction placed on broadcasting my Parliamentary speeches through official media and live telecasts of Parliament.

¶ 06 It is with deep regret and dismay that I have come to understand that this restriction was imposed based on the statements made by Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, the Leader of the House, during the second week of March 2025, in which he alleged that I had made derogatory remarks in Parliament referring to a respected lady lawyer, Ms. Swasthika Arulingam, in an undignified and inappropriate manner, and additionally claimed that I had made remarks offensive to the Muslim community in Sri Lanka.

¶ 07 I categorically deny these allegations.

¶ 08 I am firmly committed to upholding the dignity of this House and the rights of all communities in Sri Lanka, including the Tamil and Muslim minority populations, whom I proudly represent.

¶ 09 The statements made by Hon. Bimal Rathnayake are not only factually incorrect but have also resulted in serious consequences for my rights as a Member of Parliament, especially the denial of my right to freely address the House and have my voice heard by the public through official Parliamentary channels.

¶ 10 Your good office has, without conducting any formal inquiry or providing me the opportunity to respond, imposed a ban on broadcasting my speeches. I view this as a violation of my Parliamentary Privileges as enshrined in the Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament, particularly in light of the fact that on previous occasions where similar or more severe breaches occurred.

¶ 11 On the contrary, I have been continuously denied the opportunity to speak in this House for over 77 days, without any appropriate justification or due process. Meanwhile, other Members who have made far more serious or contentious statements have been allowed to speak uninterrupted during multiple Sittings, with no comparable punitive action being taken against them.

¶ 12 This selective enforcement of rules is deeply concerning and undermines the principles of equity and justice within parliamentary proceedings.

¶ 13 As such, I humbly request the following:

¶ 14 1. That a formal inquiry be conducted into the allegations raised by Hon. Bimal Rathnayake to determine the truth and the accuracy of his claims.

¶ 15 2. That immediate steps be taken to restore my right to address the Parliament and to ensure my speeches are transmitted and recorded through all official Parliamentary media as per standard procedure.

¶ 16 3. That disciplinary or corrective measures be considered against Hon. Rathnayake if it is found that he intentionally misled Parliament and tarnished my reputation and Parliamentary Privileges.

¶ 17 4. That I be granted permission under the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act to raise this matter officially at the next Sitting of Parliament, in order to ensure transparency and fairness.

¶ 18 Hon. Speaker, as a Tamil-speaking Member of Parliament representing the historically underserved Northern Province, I view this situation not only as a personal injustice, but also as a broader issue of equitable representation and respect for minority voices in this august Chamber. I trust that your good office will take the necessary steps to address this matter promptly, justly and in keeping with the high standards of dignity and impartiality that the Office of the Hon. Speaker must uphold.

¶ 19 Furthermore, I am deeply concerned that this ban may be influenced by the prevailing political climate and sensitivities surrounding the Northern Province, where I serve as a Representative of the people.

¶ 20 I sincerely hope this action is not a politically motivated measure aimed at suppressing minority representation or dissenting voices in Parliament. I respectfully urge your good office to ensure that an impartial and transparent inquiry is conducted through the Committee on Ethics and Privileges to ascertain that no such political influence has played a role in this decision, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the Parliamentary process.

¶ 21 Thank you for your kind attention.

¶ 22 Yours faithfully,

¶ 23 Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna Hon. Member of Parliament Jaffna District"

¶ 24 Hon. Speaker, I really appreciate you for letting me speak in this Parliament after 77 days and again, after 30 days.