The Hon. V. S. Radhakrishnan

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I wish to offer remarks related to today’s items. To bring foreign investment, first and foremost there must be peace and stability. While this new Government works to attract investment, it must first take steps to eradicate persistent corruption.

¶ 02 Second, killings are occurring frequently; every other day there is gunfire and deaths. This frightens potential investors. The perpetrators must be arrested and peace ensured so people can live without fear; only then will investments come. Large investments like Port City backed by China should proceed smoothly; we urge facilitation.

¶ 03 People face hardships and shortages of essentials like rice and coconuts. With Pongal on the 14th, green (raw) rice and coconuts are essential, yet raw rice costs around Rs. 280–290 per kilo. Ordinary people cannot celebrate. Meanwhile, on the 13th, the Hon. President is to go to China to celebrate Pongal. I request Hon. Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar to ensure price reductions for raw rice and coconuts so people here can celebrate.

¶ 04 The “Clean Sri Lanka” programme is good in concept and we welcome it, but some measures are troubling. Private buses and three-wheelers are reportedly required to remove additional cosmetic fittings used for aesthetics, causing issues for operators. Consider the practical problems of ordinary people and resolve them sensibly; do not eliminate the livelihoods of small vendors in the name of cleanliness.

¶ 05 A major accident occurred recently in Hatton killing three and injuring many. The only referral facility there is the Glengow Hospital, rebuilt with Indian assistance, but it lacks sufficient nurses and doctors. Please bring Glengow Hospital from provincial administration under the central government and upgrade it. It has adequate land; if needed, India would likely assist further, but we ask our Government to do it.

¶ 06 To enhance Sri Lanka–India relations, both countries should consider building a bridge. Poet Bharathiyar once wrote, “Let us build a bridge to the Sinhala island.” Today, most tourists come from India. While a ferry operates, passenger use is low. Why not a fixed connectivity? A bridge would allow travel by car, draw more Indian tourists, and boost our economy and tourism, as many regions globally have similar links. The Palk Strait is about 18 miles; a bridge would expand goodwill and economic opportunity. Thank you.