The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Chairman.

¶ 02 On fuel: Ministers keep saying there is no issue, yet people queue—indicating a breakdown of trust. Even Cabinet Spokesman’s assurances do not convince the public. Perhaps the President should go live on Facebook and say there is no problem; people might then believe. The traffic outside shows the scale of queues—panic buying persists due to lack of trust.

¶ 03 To today’s subject: Hon. Minister of Justice, some of my questions seem above your pay grade; even the President did not answer them. You may need to consult your politburo and return with answers—on the new Constitution, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the statement by Hon. Vijitha Herath. There were no answers yesterday, even from the President. When Hon. Faiszer Musthapha asked about a photocopy machine, you answered—that seems to be your operational level; the rest appears under party politburo control.

¶ 04 On accountability, there are emblematic cases: the murder of journalist Mylvaganam Nimalarajan (2000); the Trinco 5 students (2006); the ACF aid workers (2006); the “Missing 11” (abductions and killings in 2008–2009); the assault on Keith Noyahr (2008); the assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunge (2009); and the disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda (2010). Media reports—e.g., The Island on the 23rd—say the AG’s Department recommended releasing suspects in Lasantha’s case, but implementation was “suspended.” What is the Government’s position on these cases? The President has been in office five months—about a tenth of the term. You promised internationally to progress emblematic cases. What action has been taken?

¶ 05 Sri Lanka has a history of appointing commissions. In Trinco 5, the Udalagama Commission recorded witness testimony via video link in 2007, including on Wasantha Karannagoda’s role, but the case stalled after 2009. Under the 2020 Government, the Commission of Inquiry on Political Victimization recommended dropping cases against accused, including in the murders of MP Raviraj and Joseph Pararajasingham, Wasim Thajudeen’s killing, the Welikada Prison massacre, Eknaligoda, Keith Noyahr, etc. What action has the new Government taken on these?

¶ 06 A Tamil media list records 34 Tamil/Muslim/Sinhalese journalists killed between 2004–2009—predominantly Tamils. You previously committed to examine several emblematic incidents—Trinco 5, the ACF killings, and others—first, as all cannot be probed at once. That was also said in 2015. Under Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Political Victimization Commission sought to bury these. You claim to be a clean, honest Government; keep that mandate. At least answer the questions I asked—on the Constitution, the disappeared, the TRC, and allocations. The OMP and Office for Reparations have been allocated less this year than last—by Rs. 5 million—despite your stated commitments. These are higher-order questions—please consult your politburo if needed and respond. Thank you.