The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I raise a breach of my parliamentary privileges. On 10.01.2025, while departing for India via BIA to attend “Ayalaikk Tamilar Thinam” in Chennai on 11–12 January as a special guest, airport officials informed me there was a restriction and that the TID needed to question me, thereby attempting to prevent my travel. With the intervention of Hon. Rauff Hakeem, after lengthy questioning, I was allowed to travel at the last moment.

¶ 02 When I returned on 13.01.2025 and inquired, officials said no travel ban existed against me. Without any court order or Speaker’s consultation, Immigration officials’ claim of a ban amounts to a deliberate breach of privilege. I table the relevant documents, including my approved parliamentary travel from the Foreign Relations and Protocol Office.

¶ 03 Further, a former NPC member, Ayoob Asmin, posted on Facebook that no MP was obstructed at the airport and circulated my photo with Mr. “Senthamizhan” Seeman, implying reasons to block my travel. He is close to Mr. Sumanthiran, who in a recent interview alleged I intended to speak with a banned organization and that this was why I was stopped—claims he said he learned from media and speculation. I request that Mr. Sumanthiran be inquired into, and the media heads who carried this story be questioned to ascertain the truth. I table the Facebook post and the pen drive of the interview.

¶ 04 Additionally, my long-time Personal Security Officer, PS 68690 G.G.P. Rathnakumara, was suddenly transferred. I personally delivered a letter to the IGP on 08.01.2025; he has not been reassigned. I table that letter as well. I seek justice from this Parliament; otherwise I will take this up internationally.