The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.

¶ 02 On the adjournment motion by Hon. Hizbullah, Members from both Tamil and Muslim sides have spoken. We must recognize there has been injustice. When creating a new DS division in 2002, if ethnicity, religion and residence patterns had been properly considered, we would not face today’s problem.

¶ 03 As Hon. Shanakiyan said, let us not do politics over this. This is not something a commission or the Government alone can solve. Both sides must talk and resolve it. For local government administrations, Hon. Shanakiyan and Hon. Hizbullah joined with us. In Ottamavadi, our party won; together you appointed our Chairman and formed an administration—an unprecedented event.

¶ 04 So why not discuss and resolve this within Batticaloa rather than only in this House? Has bringing such issues here ever solved them? Do not mislead people. On Kalmunai North, I do not agree with creating DS divisions by ethnicity or religion. People need places to live and services, not ethnic DS boundaries.

¶ 05 Here, five GNs are involved and a large land area is at stake; those people ask for what was taken from them to be restored. Whether it seems fair or not is not the key point—contrary to what was said, I spoke with the people and they do want this. To resolve it, let us stop trading accusations and sincerely engage. Educated community leaders and political leaders from both communities must come together. Governments prefer division; unless Muslims and Tamils unite, solutions will not come.

¶ 06 You once fought for Tamil Eelam and rejected even devolution; today some magnify small issues like Kalmunai North. I say with respect to the SLMC Leader, Hon. Sumanthiran, Hon. Shanakiyan, Hon. Kodeeswaran: let us all sit together and decide. Let us stop using people for the next election. We are ready to compromise. Unite, and let both communities and their leaders settle this. Let us stop politicking and resolve the problems of Ampara, Batticaloa and the North together. Thank you!