Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, although today’s debate concerns the Companies (Amendment) Bill, I wish to record certain matters.

¶ 02 Today is a most significant day in Sri Lanka’s history—42 years since Black July. Under the UNP Government led by J.R. Jayewardene, guided by figures like Lalith Athulathmudali and Gamini Dissanayake, the most heinous anti-Tamil pogrom took place. In Welikada Prison, Kuttimani, Thangathurai, Jagan and many others were murdered. They were asked, “Will you witness the birth of Tamil Eelam?” Their eyes were gouged out before they were killed. July 23 is a black day in Tamil history. Forty-two years have passed without responsibility or justice. I record that here.

¶ 03 Thangathurai, asked by the judge of his last wish, said: “We are not lovers of arms; arms were thrust upon us.” Kuttimani said he wanted to see the blooming Tamil Eelam with his own eyes; for that his eyes were gouged and he was brutally murdered. No Government has sought apology or reparation. In March 1984, Prabhakaran told the Sunday Magazine’s Anita Pratap that had Jayewardene been a true Buddhist, he would not have taken up arms.

¶ 04 We Tamils continue to struggle for justice. Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake rose from a mud hut to the Presidency—like Abraham Lincoln, from humble origins to the White House. He sold his mother’s snacks on trains and lived as an ordinary citizen; today he is President. As the son of a poor mother, he can empathize with a national minority grievously wronged. The JVP has come to power after 56 years. History gives opportunities; so too, for Tamils who shed blood and tears. We shall see how ‘Aravinda’—Anura Kumara—handles this opportunity.

¶ 05 Everywhere you dig in this land you find mass graves—Sampur, Trincomalee, Chemmani, Kokkuvil/Kokkuthoduvai. Just yesterday, 80 skeletons were unearthed in Chemmani. No doors to justice have opened. The Devanesan Nesiah committee, supported by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, submitted a report in October 2003 on disappearances in Jaffna (2000–2002). It was shelved, as were the LLRC report and related Presidential Commission reports. No one has devised a solution.

¶ 06 The Indo–Lanka Accord did not open a path to a just solution due to Jayewardene’s machinations. In 2010, after the war, Mahinda Rajapaksa was adored as a king, with a unique opportunity no one else had. He failed—owing to incapacity or racism—and is now fading.

¶ 07 Today, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has such an opportunity; his party has 159 MPs. In 2005, the JVP, under Somawansa, withdrew support over P-TOMS, even challenging it in court. Many past errors occurred. You now speak of fraternity and national unity—we welcome that. Even today youths from the South travel by train to the North. One can only come to that place by recognizing one’s own wrongdoing. Yet no one seems to do so.

¶ 08 The JVP comrades here are fighters who once took up arms against the State. History seated you in power after 50 years. Similarly, our fighters for Tamil liberation lie as martyrs in Thuyilum Illams. Over these resting places, the military has set up camps and treads with boots; even plays football. How can fraternity arise thus? How can relations endure? How can we be citizens together? Please think. We are not outsiders; we do not reject anyone. We desire unity. As a distinct national community, we ask only for guarantees to live in our historical homeland—the North and East—with our own sovereignty. Without that guarantee, how will there be a solution or unity?

¶ 09 Pillaiyan (Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan) is under arrest and must face justice for any crimes. But he is investigated around Easter. On 27 April 2019—just after Easter—then Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa told Reuters, “Tackle the threat from radical Islam.” He identified who was behind it. Why then is only Pillaiyan questioned? Why not Gotabaya Rajapaksa and others?

¶ 10 I table a copy of the Reuters report of 27 April 2019.

¶ 11 We wish to live together as citizens. We understand the Companies (Amendment) Bill is important for the country’s development and we are ready to cooperate. The North and East are Tamil regions. Like Malaysia’s Penang—predominantly Tamil-speaking—was developed by inviting investors and granting them rights and fiscal authority, so too should we. Develop Kankesanthurai Port, Palaly and Batticaloa airports—plans exist, even Indian grants (e.g., US$52 million for KKS). Why hesitate? Are you afraid Tamils will advance?

¶ 12 In 1983, Tamils dominated Colombo’s commerce. To destroy that dominance, Jayewardene used ethnic violence, ruining Tamil livelihoods. Let us now create a path for us to live utilizing our capacities. Why not rehabilitate KKS Port with Indian assistance?

¶ 13 We still do not see goodwill. President Anura has been in office 304 days; the Government is yet to present a political solution for Tamils who are politically adrift. No forum has been created to discuss it.

¶ 14 How then will progress come? In Valikamam North, about 2,700 acres remain unreleased; people protest, live with relatives, or in IDP camps. Meanwhile, events for “fraternity” are conducted from South to North. We too want fraternity, but our unity must allow us to live as ourselves while you live as yourselves—recognizing our language, culture, identity, and land, as we recognize yours.

¶ 15 Please, if you accept that, together we can build Sri Lanka. This Government has far to go even to speak of peace. Do not repeat the mistakes of Mahinda or Jayewardene. Do not waste this opportunity. If you do, the country will move in the direction it wills, towards a solution for Tamils—by their own right, as self-determination. Please first come forward with a solution for us to live together. I conclude.