The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, I wish to record some views relating to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration.

¶ 02 First, about a discussion held yesterday in Colombo concerning the Tissa Rajamaha Viharaya built illegally at Thayiddi. Officials of the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and the chief incumbent of that temple attended. However, the owners of the lands that were illegally seized for this construction were not invited. On what basis can such a meeting be considered a fair attempt?

¶ 03 Before this government came to power, we had clearly pointed out that the Tissa Viharaya had been constructed illegally by the military without permission or knowledge of the Ministry of Buddha Sasana or any other ministry. Lt. Gen. (ret.) Shavendra Silva was a key figure. This is part of militarization. The land on which it stands belongs to private owners who hold title deeds. While there are urgent calls to release those lands, a letter has been sent by Chandra Nimal Wakista—former Director of the State Intelligence Service, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, and now head of the All-Island Buddhist Federation—threatening the Jaffna Government Agent regarding this matter. This shows how deeply this is tied to militarization.

¶ 04 This is not a government matter; this is the deep state—an ugly face of counterinsurgency. It has nothing to do with Buddhism. It is purely an ethnonationalist project targeting Tamils, proceeding in the same mindset that committed genocide against Tamils. Even after we pointed this out, the government holds secret meetings in Colombo without the affected people. This Ministry is one of National Integration. How can such conduct be permitted? Please do not perpetuate this injustice. You came to end racism against Tamils. On Tissa Viharaya, take a firm decision without hesitation. We request that you decide and not succumb to such wrongful pressure.

¶ 05 Second, on 10th of this month, a meeting of the Northern Province Health Ministry was held in Jaffna chaired by the Governor. An MP of the NPP, Hon. S. Bavanantharajah, was invited. I state responsibly that when Hon. Minister Bimal Rathnayake last visited Jaffna, instructions were issued to appoint shadow ministers to the Provincial Council and invite them to meetings: Hon. S. Bavanantharajah for Health; Hon. Jegatheeswaran for Education; Hon. Rajeevan for Women and Children’s Affairs; Hon. Ilankumaran for Local Government; Hon. Thilakanathan for Agriculture and Livestock. With no Provincial Councils functioning, if a meeting is to be held in the Northern Province, all MPs representing the North should be invited. How can only one MP, Hon. Bavanantharajah, be invited? On one hand the government avoids holding provincial elections; on the other hand it infiltrates the defunct institutions with its party members, akin to Praja Shakthi, in a grossly undemocratic manner—appointing its members as proxies to the Provincial Council. That is what is happening.

¶ 06 Finally, I wish to raise a matter about a Tamil political prisoner named Nimalan, detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, now held in Welikada Prison. He faces death threats and multiple cases requiring him to be taken to the Badulla High Court and the Matara Magistrate’s Court. Knowing the threats to his life, prison authorities had, for over six years, customarily brought him back to Colombo immediately after each court appearance. With a new official now appointed, that practice has been stopped; he is kept in outstation prisons where his life is at risk and brought to Colombo only when there are Colombo cases. Please stop this injustice. You promised during elections that those detained under the PTA who should be released would be released, and you sought Tamil votes accordingly. You must intervene to prevent risk to someone eligible for release.

¶ 07 Similarly, in the case of another person named Morris, after courts rejected an illegally obtained confession and acquitted him in one case, a new case is immediately filed against him. This is unjust. Even if you cannot yet repeal the PTA, at least stop such injustices.