The Hon. G. G. Ponnambalam

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, I will raise a few matters, though they are outside today’s topic.

¶ 02 First, the Dispenser Service under the Ministry of Health. By Gazette No. 2377 of 27 March 2024, applications were called; interviews were held in June 2024; a list was released. Thereafter, no appointments have been made, despite severe shortages. The last appointments were in 2016. In the Northern Province, many appointees from outside sought transfers back over the years, creating more vacancies—about 40 in the Province and 20 in Jaffna District alone. I urge the Government to appoint those interviewed as early as possible and, until then, prevent transfers out to avoid a worsening crisis in Jaffna’s health sector.

¶ 03 Second, also on the Dispenser Service: Service Minutes of 11 October 2016 require Grade I Dispensers to sit the Third Efficiency Bar Examination annually or twice a year. These exams have never been held, islandwide to my understanding. Consequently, Grade I officers have not received increments. It is grossly unfair. Please address this urgently and grant due increments.

¶ 04 Third, the Colombo–Jaffna railway. After Indian-funded relaying, four daily services ran. On 5 January 2023, all services halted for repairs between Anuradhapura and Vavuniya/Omanthai; now work is between Maho and Anuradhapura. During the halt, two services were diverted to the East (Trincomalee and Batticaloa), and have not been restored to Jaffna. Today, only “Yal Devi” runs daily; on weekends, only the fully air-conditioned Intercity runs, expanded during peak seasons. This is inadequate. The Jaffna service was highly profitable and ran at full capacity even with four trains. Please urgently restore services. Also, previously trains originated from Mount Lavinia, stopping at Wellawatte and Bambalapitiya—areas with large Tamil populations. Now starting at Fort only causes inconvenience. Please address this as well.

¶ 05 Finally, Sri Lankan citizens who went to Russia have reportedly been forcibly recruited into the Russian Army, some injured. Their families protested yesterday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. They want their family members repatriated. I urge the Hon. Minister to act urgently to bring them back. If they have erred, that is separate, but they cannot be compelled to serve and risk their lives.

¶ 06 Thank you.