The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan

¶ 01 Madam Deputy Chairperson of Committees, today a resolution has been brought to extend the State of Emergency declared by the President. In a context where, under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), many tragic events continue to occur, this is a dangerous time. Last week in Jaffna, a youth from Udayanagar East, Kilinochchi—Mr. Ganeshkumar Sangeethsan—was arrested under the PTA. He is an artist who sings and speaks truth to society, yet he has been arrested and detained merely for a song. This is one of the saddest incidents under the PTA.

¶ 02 The PTA, introduced in 1978, gravely harmed Sinhala and Tamil youth. Over 60,000 Sinhala youths were killed, with leaders like J.R. Jayewardene and Ranasinghe Premadasa using the PTA. Many of you, including today’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, then in Opposition, demanded the repeal of this draconian law and promised to repeal it upon coming to power. Two years in, it has not been repealed. Instead, you speak of a new anti-terror law while leaving this one in place.

¶ 03 It is through the PTA that Tamil people suffered great atrocities. In 2006–2009, including Vakarai in the East and Mullivaikkal in the North, mass atrocities occurred, aided by the PTA. Today, Sangeethsan has been arrested under this very law for a song.

¶ 04 Is the right to sing curtailed? Is freedom of speech curtailed? If so, say so in this House. Books by writer Deepachelvan arriving from India have been held up at Customs. Writing is curtailed; singing is curtailed; freedom of assembly is curtailed—through the PTA. And now, the President has extended the State of Emergency, enhancing suppression. Why not use his power to free Sangeethsan? People are protesting across the North and East—Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Valvettithurai—demanding his release. If he is not freed, there will be a massive protest across the North and East.

¶ 05 These acts suppress youth freedoms. Since you took office, you speak of “development,” but we see no development—only arrests and repression. The Jaffna High Court Judge, Mr. Alexraja, was abruptly transferred to Badulla within two months as he was advancing certain cases. The same happened to Mullaitivu District Judge Saravanaraja. Your so-called laws for the people and for justice are undermining the judiciary. In Kurunthurmalai, despite court orders, a vihara was built by monks. You could not prevent it and punished the judge instead; he left the country.

¶ 06 Similarly, when Alexraja was delivering justice, he was transferred from Jaffna for the sake of an arbitrary regime—this is a grave injustice. A climate where no one dares speak. In schools, even sports day formations are questioned and principals and teachers are investigated—for example, Union College, Jaffna, and Konavil Maha Vidyalayam in Kilinochchi. If you sing—PTA; if you speak—PTA; if you assemble—PTA. Where is reconciliation, then?

¶ 07 Hon. Ministers, please reflect. This law has also victimized you in the past. The history of this country includes women like the “Kataragama beauty” Manamperi, stripped and dragged, then shot. During the Mullivaikkal war’s end, despite 400,000 people being present, they said only 75,000 were there; Gotabaya Rajapaksa denied adequate food and medicine, and used cluster munitions and white phosphorus, killing civilians. This political approach continues.

¶ 08 “Politics that errs becomes a moral indictment,” says Silappatikaram. Because of political errors, Gotabaya Rajapaksa had to leave within two years, and Mahinda Rajapaksa could not return to power. The suffering of Sangeethsan and Deepachelvan foretells more to come if we continue this path. Youth freedoms are being suppressed. What reconciliation is this? What progress have you achieved in two years?

¶ 09 Tamils and Sinhalese remain mentally divided even under one national flag. State terror reigns, and you perpetuate it—just like J.R. Jayewardene, who declared “If war, then war; if peace, then peace,” and roused war against innocents. Fifty years on, if you have learned nothing—even under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake—this country will plunge further. The economy still cannot grow.

¶ 10 My time is up? Please grant me two more minutes.

¶ 11 Justice must belong equally to all communities. Transferring judges at will, appointing pliant judges, and delivering verdicts to suit the Government is a grave situation. A close relative of journalist Mervyn de Silva wrote that J.R. Jayewardene said they could have judgments written to their liking, and by giving cars or houses to judges, decide whose heads to break and what verdicts to deliver. Read A.Jeyaratnam Wilson’s “The Break-up of Sri Lanka.” Each line records injustices by Sinhala leaders against Tamils. Therefore, do not detain Sangeethsan under the PTA. Take steps to release him immediately. I stress this again through this august House.