The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity. I will speak under the Ministry’s Votes on reconciliation (sanhindiya). Based on my service in the North and East, I wish to highlight concerns.

¶ 02 First, I note a public media discussion raised about a “conflict of interest” concerning a judge reportedly related closely to an Opposition MP whose notorious transaction is under adjudication. It is said the judge attended that MP’s wedding. If there is such a conflict, to protect the dignity of the judiciary, that judge should recuse. I request the Minister to have the JSC look into it and take necessary action, or clarify if the allegation is false.

¶ 03 On reconciliation: from 2014–2017, I served as a brigade commander in Kilinochchi. A Tamil school principal repeatedly came to me because circulars and instructions came only in Sinhala; she needed them translated into Tamil or English. Sixteen years after the war, have governments honestly tried to solve the national question, including the language issue?

¶ 04 The Army has become a bridge between South and North/East. Communication often required interpreters. My personal view is that the 1956 “Sinhala Only” Act sparked the problem. It pushed English aside for indigenous languages but resulted in two parallel classes in both Sinhala and Tamil societies—an elite in governance and the ordinary Sinhala/Tamil citizens. Today, ordinary people understand the value of English; we invest heavily to educate children in English and send them abroad—an issue the elite did not face.

¶ 05 Therefore, practical steps are needed for reconciliation. The recent election results show people trust this Government to build national and religious harmony and forge a Sri Lankan identity. Our President has initiated a project to create a Sri Lankan identity and culture, including establishing a common cultural festival—Sri Lankan Day. I believe this is laudable and necessary. Thank you.