The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I will begin in Tamil. The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara recently claimed the Chemmani mass grave was hearsay. To date, around 150 skeletal remains have been found there; our relatives’ bodies are being exhumed. Our trauma is being unearthed with those bones. Therefore, we call for an international investigation.

¶ 02 Secondly, for a comment I posted on my Facebook page, CID summoned me for inquiry yesterday. Summoning an MP is not an issue. But many of our people like Ananda Sudhakar are detained for decades under the PTA. You too were once part of a struggle. I kindly request you to act on their cases as well.

¶ 03 The Hon. Harini Amarasuriya came to Jaffna to conduct meetings on education reforms; reports say teachers and principals fell asleep—a serious matter. As a doctor, before a major reform you do a pilot study and base the work on evidence; instead, things are being flipped overnight. I am genuinely concerned.

¶ 04 On Nallur temple soil—though I had another topic today, I was asked not to speak on it. Justice must prevail there. If changes are made, let the DCC meeting be informed about what is happening.

¶ 05 I will now speak briefly in Sinhala. For years I was called “koti, koti”—a tiger. Many of you said, “The tiger from the North has arrived.” Yesterday CID called me. Read the comments and you will see who the real terrorists are and who stand for the people. I publicly supported Anura Kumara Dissanayake during the election. Now, brought into the Opposition, my voice is being stifled with about 25 cases. When I go to a hospital to inquire into injustices, they file cases saying I obstructed duties; when I complain, more cases; when I raise matters here, I am silenced. People are watching.

¶ 06 On education reforms: our history must be understood; the system needs comprehensive change. You saw I abstained in the vote. My reason is this cycle: when a new government comes, the Opposition’s people are arrested; when power shifts, the other side is jailed. This is unjust and hurts ordinary people.

¶ 07 You said you would not use vehicles and would travel by bus or train; but I was stopped by Police because an Hon. Member was passing. Do not do such theatrics—people see and mock you online. You said you did not want salaries; that you would abolish former Presidents’ privileges; then told Members to apply for pensions. Next year, only a few of you may remain; then others must be paid pensions—maintain the dignity of offices, including the Presidency.

¶ 08 Do not call them “soldiers” demeaningly; they are war heroes who died for you. Just as you revere Rohana Wijeweera, I say Velupillai Prabhakaran was our hero—he died for us.