The Hon. (Dr.) Sellaththamby Thilaganathan

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I am pleased to participate in today’s Committee Stage debate on allocations for the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs in the Budget for 2026.

¶ 02 Various views have been expressed about these Ministries today. As someone from the Vanni, I must say many such claims are baseless lies. What the previous speaker stated—that the Army, Navy and Air Force personnel in the North are engaged in drug trafficking—deeply pains me. As a resident of that area who lives and associates with the people, I have received no such information. Perhaps that Hon. Member has not visited the Vanni for many years.

¶ 03 Making such unfounded allegations causes mental anguish to the families of Army, Navy and Air Force personnel. He is a lawyer. If he truly wanted to protect Northern youth, he should have taken action to arrest the drug traffickers he alleges and produce them before the law, rather than indict the entire military in this august House.

¶ 04 He also claimed there is a Navy checkpoint every kilometre in Mullaitivu. Mullaitivu District has a 70-kilometre coastline, and there are only three naval bases. Those personnel assist fishermen in various ways, curb banned fishing methods and prevent drugs from entering Sri Lanka.

¶ 05 Mullaitivu is a vast district with a dispersed population. In the past, there were many army camps. After our Government came to power, many camps were removed. In particular, camps in Manangkandal, Muthaiyankattu, Ottusuddan and Mallavi were removed and the lands handed back to the people. The Ponnambalam Hospital, formerly run by the LTTE in the Puthukudiyiruppu area, was also returned to its owner. Many lands have been gradually released by our Government.

¶ 06 During previous administrations, many Vanni youth fell into drug use. Drugs were introduced then. Under our Government, drug traffickers are being arrested. A rehabilitation centre is also to be established in Oddusuddan to treat those addicted to drugs. Because drugs are not easily available now, some who were addicted earlier are in poor health; hence we will set up rehabilitation to help them.

¶ 07 There are shortcomings in police stations—especially a lack of Tamil-speaking officers in the North. Our Government has taken steps to appoint Tamil-speaking police personnel to areas including Mullaitivu, and has procured new vehicles for Northern and Eastern stations. With Indian Government assistance, 130 single-cabin vehicles have been purchased.

¶ 08 Our Government continues to deliver various benefits to the people in the North. The claim that chillies are drying up in Menik Farm is false; it is the rainy season. He has levelled many false accusations against the Government and left; I say this with regret.

¶ 09 People are returning to normal life after past problems. At such a time, making accusations that disturb the public psyche is irresponsible.

¶ 10 The Civil Security Department is providing many services to people in Mullaitivu. Officers recruited by the Department teach in preschools where there is a shortage of teachers. The Department trains them and appoints them to preschools, serving the future of our children.

¶ 11 Thank you.