The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, please allow me the full eight minutes allocated.

¶ 02 Mullaitivu is among the districts worst affected by state-driven Sinhala-Buddhistization and faces severe illegal sand mining along forests and riverbanks, looting our land. While eco-tourism is touted elsewhere, our forests are illegally cleared and resources uprooted here. The Forest Department, which files cases against Tamils cultivating their own land and jails them, remains silent on illegal deforestation and sand theft.

¶ 03 That said, unlike earlier governments fixated solely on Sinhala-Buddhistization, your Government has shown some consideration for Mullaitivu’s development: this year’s Vettuvaykal bridge, road improvements, and next year’s planned Kokkilai-Pulmoddai bridge. We welcome that you have heeded these requests. However, many needs in our district remain unaddressed.

¶ 04 Mullaitivu, of four agro-ecological zones—Neithal, Marutham, Kurinji, Mullai—bore immense losses of life, limb, property, and livelihood in the war and remains far behind in post-war development. Its natural beauty, water bodies, historic sites, and cultural assets could make it an excellent tourism destination. Yet, a lack of basic facilities, marketing challenges, safety and demining issues, and persistent North-South conflict attitudes deter domestic and foreign investors.

¶ 05 Transport access to natural attractions is limited; many sites lack public transport. There are few restaurants, toilets, and basic amenities; little international media promotion; minimal state focus beyond volunteers’ notes; inadequate visitor safety infrastructure. The National Mine Action Centre’s 2023 report identifies Mullaitivu as the district with the highest concentration of explosive remnants. The Government must expedite clearance to ensure safe movement.

¶ 06 The Government proudly exhibits LTTE submersibles and vehicles as war trophies, yet for over a decade has refused to allow a memorial site at Mullivaikkal where thousands of Tamils gather to mourn annually. No Eelam Tamil goes to admire your trophies; they stand as reminders of genocide. Fifteen years after war’s end, our people still struggle—for their land, worship rights, and for answers about the disappeared. This approach undermines security perceptions and deters investors.

¶ 07 According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority’s 2024 review, tourist arrivals rose by 38.07 percent over the previous year, but severe regional imbalances persist. Over 36 percent of total accommodation capacity is in the Western Province, 25.5 percent in the Southern Province, while the Northern Province has around 2 percent. By district, Colombo dominates; Vavuniya and Mannar are very low; Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi account for about 0.1 percent and 0.08 percent respectively; Jaffna about 1.3 percent. Please establish tourism facilities in Mullaitivu, support tourism development, and implement it effectively.

¶ 08 Thank you.