The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam

¶ 01 I had 15 minutes. Usually, the Opposition’s time allocation to our party is not reduced. Please grant my full 15 minutes.

¶ 02 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member.

¶ 03 Today is November 27, Maaveerar Naal—Heroes’ Day—and Heroes’ Week. First, in this august House, I pay my respects to all our heroes who sacrificed their lives for our land, its liberation, and the future of the Tamil people. Since the NPP came to power, this is the second Heroes’ Day observed; last year and this year, it is being observed. We must thank the NPP Government for allowing people in the North and East to pay homage freely.

¶ 04 People across the North and East are organizing events to remember loved ones who died for the land and are conducting them freely. Still, I request the Government: traditionally, incoming governments allow Heroes’ Day commemorations in the first two years, identifying organizers and participants, and later—towards the end—some have faced arrests under PTA and other harassments. I ask that during your tenure, you continue as you have done in these first two years—allowing political homage without reprisals. Thank you again for this opportunity.

¶ 05 Today’s debate is crucial—the Committee Stage on Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation. The so-called “liberation struggle” that led to thousands of heroes being buried in this soil had a major root in state-driven colonization disguised as irrigation schemes. Before these, there was no separate Ampara District. Through schemes like Gal Oya and the Senanayake Samudra, people were brought from elsewhere and settled without prioritizing locals. Altering the demography of the North and East was a key factor driving the struggle. If we as people’s representatives are to do justice to those sacrifices, even if they fought for a separate state, at least we must move towards a political solution within Sri Lanka.

¶ 06 When authorities tried to prevent commemoration, we stood with our people at those venues—even during parliamentary sittings—and participated. In November 2023, when we went to pay respects at the Maaveerar Thuyilum Illam, police arrived around 6.00 a.m., tore banners and flags, assaulted elderly mothers present, and made arrests. Despite such pressure, we stood with our people and participated. Today, this Government has allowed free homage; I acknowledge that.

¶ 07 Now, turning to today’s subject: land is our primary asset. Whether we assert internal or external self-determination, land is paramount. Sadly, your Ministry is the main actor in depriving us of land—since the Mahaweli Authority falls under you. Not even a single drop of water has been diverted to the North and East through the Mahaweli Scheme, but successive governments have taken over land under the guise of Mahaweli to create colonization schemes. Unfortunately, it continues under your Government too.

¶ 08 Under “Mahaweli Zone B,” in Batticaloa District, lands have been appropriated. The Hon. Dr. Sellaththamby Thilaganathan said 1,200 acres would be given as pasture under Mahaweli. But the over 750 livestock farmers in Mayilathamadu–Mathavani have been struggling not for 1,200 acres alone; those command areas were historically used as pasture even if under Mahaweli ownership. With over 500,000 head of livestock, at least 7,000 acres are needed for pasture.

¶ 09 I also stated yesterday that in the North and East, people’s economy rests on fisheries, farming and livestock. Your Ministers are destroying fisheries; and livestock farmers in Batticaloa still have no justice. In Trincomalee, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya—under Mahaweli “L”—large tracts are given to settlers from other districts as colonization, under your Ministry.

¶ 10 This morning, the Vavuniya MP Dr. Sathiyalingam said your Kivul Oya project discriminates against Tamil-speaking people racially. We cannot allow such things under your Government. It is exactly such land alienation that led to a 30-year armed struggle. Even today, North and East people commemorate because our lands were taken; and that same land grab continues.

¶ 11 On floods: The Government must be prepared. In Batticaloa, waters from the hills discharge through Ampara and Batticaloa to the sea. Only by building more than five water tanks in the so-called Igalakothmale region under Mahaweli can water be retained. Without retention upstream, heavy rain sends water straight through the East to the sea; when tank levels suddenly rise and gates are opened without planning, our districts are flooded. Today’s Committee on Parliamentary Business said weather will settle by the 28th or 29th—but the impact on Batticaloa will come after that, as waters arrive 2–3 days later.

¶ 12 The President held a meeting this morning and left. That meeting should have been held earlier. Inexperienced district heads under you hold positions in name only; they remain in Colombo until floods arrive, then rush to the North and East—this is not proper disaster management.

¶ 13 Last year, after the Parliamentary Elections, floods came within days. I personally used my vehicles to rescue stranded people. We did not blame the Government then—only 1½ months since the Presidential and about a week since Parliamentary polls; you needed time to gain experience. But now it’s over a year and the situation is the same. The President now asks MPs to hold District Development Committee meetings and decide.

¶ 14 Last year, when some in our area lacked dinner, I bought them noodles. At that time, we did not criticize; but today, with time and mandate, you must plan and act proactively.