The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe

¶ 01 In the Committee Stage debate of the Third Reading of the 2026 Budget, I am pleased to participate. Today’s debate concerns some of the most important matters of our country, including the Executive Office of the President, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Office of the Chief Justice and Judges of the Supreme Court, the Cabinet Office, the Public Service Commission, and the Elections Commission.

¶ 02 Development is necessary for our people, whose needs are many, and through this budget we must do much more. At the same time, the Government and those in authority must make efforts to solve the ethnic problem of this country. In our political history, at each time, each President has had the heavy responsibility to strive for a solution.

¶ 03 In 1994, when Madam Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was elected President, Tamil-speaking people, for the first time, I believe, gave her a large share of votes in the hope she would provide a solution to the ethnic issue. She served two terms. With the support of our then SLMC Leader, the late M.H.M. Ashraff, a solution package was prepared and presented to this Parliament. But those who were here then opposed it and tore it up, and she could not achieve a solution to the ethnic issue.

¶ 04 Subsequently, Mahinda Rajapaksa became President. He ended the 30-year war and pursued major development. But he took no meaningful initiatives to solve the ethnic problem. Had he proposed a solution while President, he might have remained as President as long as he wished, like some kings in Saudi Arabia—because he ended the war and had a chance to win the trust of all communities. He missed that opportunity.

¶ 05 Thereafter, Maithripala Sirisena became President with significant support from Tamil-speaking people. We expected he would find a solution. But all ended in failure; despite the votes that changed the Government, he provided no solution during his short tenure.

¶ 06 After that, Gotabaya Rajapaksa came to power by spreading communalism as his capital—holding special meetings in about 2,000 Buddhist temples, carrying out campaigns against the Muslim community, and speaking against Muslims. Under his rule, Muslims suffered greatly. In retaliation for not voting for him, he began to take revenge on our people. As part of that, contrary to religious practices, our people’s janazas were cremated. Not only that, he even laid hands on our Holy Qur’an.

¶ 07 In this regard, I must also speak about the confiscated copies of the Qur’an held by the Department of Customs. This is a blatant human rights violation. Without party difference, 22 Muslim MPs from both Government and Opposition submitted a petition to the Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs. Former rulers used their power, and even with our Muslim religious leaders, we could not secure the release of the Holy Qur’an from Customs. Therefore, I request the Hon. President to convene a special meeting under his leadership and immediately release these Holy Qur’ans unjustly detained by the previous rulers. I table here a copy of the letter signed by 22 Muslim MPs.

¶ 08 Today, this is a deeply distressing matter for us. I ask all in the ruling party to extend cooperation on this matter. The current President must not repeat the mistakes of past Presidents. Under Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayaka’s administration, people expect many benefits and the fulfillment of every promise given. You promised to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act in the short term. That law must be repealed immediately. Recently, two Muslim youths were victimized under this law—for merely pasting a handbill, instead of arresting under ordinary law, the President signed and they were arrested under the PTA, causing great hardship to their families. This must change.

¶ 09 Next, regarding the 13th Amendment: Even during the campaign in Jaffna, the Hon. President said, “If we come to power, we will fully implement the 13th Amendment.” We ask that you do this good deed. With the rising cost of living, ordinary people are economically suffering. You said you would reduce electricity bills—for example, from Rs. 9,000 to Rs. 6,000, and from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 2,000—i.e., a 33% reduction. But now people are affected by increases. I ask you to implement the measures you promised regarding electricity tariffs.

¶ 10 I must also mention the Ministry of Justice and National Unity and Reconciliation. What are its duties? Chiefly to foster harmony among religions in this country. In the Ministry’s Advisory Committee, I asked, under the Hon. President’s leadership, why has the Presidential Secretariat not appointed a Muslim member to the Clean Sri Lanka task force? The Hon. Minister of Justice said the Deputy Minister would respond; then the Hon. Deputy Minister said Clean Sri Lanka is under the Presidential Secretariat, led by the President, not under our Ministry. I wish to say that even if it functions under the Presidential Secretariat, the Ministry of Justice and National Unity has responsibility to balance and ensure equality across communities and religions. There must be equality and representation.

¶ 11 It is a serious shortcoming for our community that no Muslim has yet been appointed as a Cabinet Minister. Some claim there are no qualified Muslims. Another says in Jaffna that “only the qualified should be made ministers.” The other day, a Member said, “If we ask, the Hon. President will give a ministerial post, but we did not ask.” Similarly, regarding the recently appointed Archaeological Advisory Committee, 19 names have been gazetted with no Tamil or Muslim representation. I have that Gazette with me. Had there been a Muslim in Cabinet, perhaps we could have had one person from our side appointed to that Committee. When we are excluded again and again, we are compelled to demand our rights and equality as a matter of national concern.

¶ 12 Likewise, in the Education Reform Committee appointed by the Ministry of Education, not a single Muslim has been appointed; 19 appointees are from a single community. When asked, we were told a Muslim would be appointed later; to date it has not happened. This lack of representation for Muslims across committees persists. We could remain silent in Opposition and that may benefit your politics, but the people who voted for you, especially many Muslims, are now very worried. You are losing their support. Please rectify this.

¶ 13 Regarding the judiciary: judges must act justly and fairly. Recently, injustices done to Justice Laffar and Justice Nawaz are known to you. We raised our voices here. Similarly, in the 1996 “Operation Sunbeam,” when eight judges refused to take up the Chemmani mass grave inquiry related to the rape and murder of Krishanthi, it was Justice Ilanchezian who courageously took it as the ninth judge. He has said publicly, with tears, that the Government denied him promotion to the Court of Appeal and forced him to retire. We are deeply concerned that justice has been denied to a great judge who upheld justice and the law—even as he personally suffered attacks, with his bodyguard killed, and he raised his children at his own expense. The Judicial Service Commission and Ministry of Justice must act together to grant justice to anyone who strove to uphold law and justice—for a Tamil son who upheld justice in Jaffna, and believed in the law.

¶ 14 Next, the Elections Commission. During Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tenure, when he could not face the people, the 2023 March Local Government Election was suspended without valid reason. The Elections Department had proceeded: 59 political parties, 329 independent groups, totaling 80,672 candidates had filed nominations. Because of the suspension, over 2,000 public servants were directly affected—no election, no salary, no leave; they lost monthly pay and suffered political reprisals. Political parties spent crores of rupees. I too was the lead candidate for SLMC for the Akkaraipattu Pradeshiya Sabha. To date, no relief has been granted to the affected public officers. The Department printed ballot papers, issued notices, and prepared postal vote lists. Therefore, by avoiding the March 2023 local polls, millions in public funds were wasted. I request a Commission of Inquiry both into this waste and into compensation for the 80,672 candidates.

¶ 15 The Elections Department had announced the election. Yet the President came to Parliament and, as if from a different planet, said, “What election? I don’t know.” This is no joke. Those millions could have been used for good purposes. Even as the Opposition, we will support good measures. So why was the election halted? Who erred? I ask for a Special Commission to inquire, and to recover the wasted funds from those responsible in the Department and the wrongdoers. Thank you.