The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, it is 10.53 now; please start my time from 10.35 a.m., otherwise I will have only a minute left.

¶ 02 First, congratulations to the NPP Government. This is a historic achievement — winning 159 seats. Likewise, for our Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi in the North and East, we have again secured the people’s mandate. We have parliamentary representation from all five electoral districts in the East, and especially in Batticaloa we achieved a historic result with over 65,000 preference votes for me, even as the “Anura wave” swept the country. In Batticaloa, we withstood that wave and secured the most votes and seats.

¶ 03 We are debating the President’s policy statement. Equality is important in the country; we welcome upholding equality. However, in the President’s speech, issues specific to the Tamil people were not addressed. Therefore, I wish to raise them on behalf of the Tamil people. Our party has regained recognition as the principal Tamil party in the North and East.

¶ 04 Most importantly, Tamil political prisoners, who took up arms for political reasons, remain in jail without release. Initially arrested under the PTA, they are now held under various counter-terrorism cases. The PTA was used to arrest these prisoners; to date they are rotting in prisons. I urge the Government to act immediately to release political prisoners and resolve this issue. The current Minister of Justice and National Integration and the Prime Minister were previously active regarding the PTA. This morning, I saw a cartoon by Namal Amarasinghe rendering PTA as “Power To Anura”. We do not want such portrayals. The PTA was something even the JVP/NPP agreed to repeal. NPP members joined our islandwide signature campaign to repeal it. But now, under your Government, the PTA is again being used. I raise this so the Government is not attacked on these grounds.

¶ 05 The Government must also act on enforced disappearances — there must be justice, investigations, and perpetrators must be identified and punished. There has to be an accountability mechanism. The previous Government proposed a TRC. Are you proceeding with it or not? We want the Government’s official position on accountability. Geneva will come up; the UNHRC will take it up. Those who committed crimes against humanity and crimes against the Tamil people must be punished. We want to know the NPP’s stance. The JVP/NPP, having experienced disappearances themselves, should be sensitive to this.

¶ 06 There are land issues too, particularly affecting Tamils in ways the Sinhala majority does not experience. Notably, grazing land problems under the Mahaweli Authority are found across eight districts in the North and East — for example, the Mayilathamadu/Mathavanai grazing land issue in Batticaloa — and also in Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, and Trincomalee. We need to know the Government’s position. Likewise, the Department of Archaeology poses no threat to Sinhala people, but Tamils face continuous problems — whether in Kanniya hot wells, Kurunthur malai, Vedukunari malai, or Kusalana malai in Batticaloa. We need the Government’s position on these archeological issues. On forest department matters too, Tamils face problems. The previous Government’s position was to revert to the 1983 land survey plan; that could resolve some forestland disputes. We want to know your position. Demarcation of forestland is a major problem in the North and East.

¶ 07 There are administration-related issues not present in majority areas — for example, the Kalmunai North Divisional Secretariat problem, which has been used administratively against Tamils. The Government must resolve it, especially since you received Tamil votes in the North and East.

¶ 08 On withdrawal of army camps, we welcome the removal of one camp and certain roadblocks, even if the extent was small, and the reopening of access to some temples. Thank you. But much more needs to be done — many camps still occupy State lands, schools, and temples. We encourage further progressive steps.

¶ 09 On devolution: I thank Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa for clarifying at the Cabinet press briefing my question about the JVP General-Secretary’s statement. We welcome your decision to retain provincial councils until a new Constitution is enacted. But in that new Constitution, remember the Tamil people are entitled to political rights. In Ampara, the Sinhala population percentage has increased by 1200% since Independence (compared to 200% increases elsewhere like Gampaha). In Trincomalee it has increased by 700%. State-sponsored colonization over 75 years has changed demography in the North and East. The presence of other communities cannot be used to deny the Tamils a political solution. Equal political power and devolution must be addressed. If you rely on today’s numbers to erase the Tamil majority status in the North and East and deny devolution, you will face the same repercussions as past governments. Your Manifesto said you would take forward the 2015–2019 constitution-making process. The current Prime Minister Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya served on the committee that made recommendations in May 2016. We are open to dialogue; we are not here to disrupt.

¶ 10 Mr. Speaker, our aim is not to topple or sabotage the Government. We will support good initiatives. But we also expect progressive steps to resolve our issues. Three key matters: First, on the Easter Sunday attacks — this Government bears a heavy responsibility. Pillayan was questioned; beyond that, it is for the police to act. We are not saying “arrest”; do your job. There is more information. I have informed the Defence Secretary. The Minister of Public Security is here. We raised the “Tripoli Platoon” in this House. Give us the opportunity; we can connect you to these groups and more witnesses.

¶ 11 In the recent General Election I received over 65,000 votes in Batticaloa — likely the highest there historically. We too said the same things you did — stop corruption and fraud. I handed over details on 32 matters involving Pillayan and his government to the then Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, but nothing was done. The current Prime Minister or the President can now obtain those details from us — where Pillayan grabbed lands, where money was taken for State lands. Investigate. The people are watching. With a large majority of 159, use it to take the country forward. We are not aiming to topple the Government to seize power; our party is not positioned to form a government imminently. We want to work together moving forward.

¶ 12 You mentioned MPs holding bar permits, including in the North. Former MP Vigneswaran openly admitted it. Why have the other names not been released? If you have details, investigate and disclose which MPs hold bar permits. If you are advancing processes to investigate corruption and fraud, we too are willing to support. The people are watching. Before the Presidential Election, you said the people are your Opposition. Before the public take to the streets, please expedite this process. You have adequate time.