The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I thank Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne for allowing me 10 minutes.

¶ 02 May 18 is the day our Tamil nation was annihilated—we commemorate it in mourning. You celebrate May 19 as “War Victory Day.” That hurts us; yet we do not wish to hurt you. We respect your soldiers and your struggle. Even our National Leader Prabhakaran never ordered the stripping or summary execution of surrendered soldiers; there is no such history.

¶ 03 [Expunged on the order of the Chair.]

¶ 04 A doctor who served at Puthumathalan Hospital in May 2009 told foreign media of mass civilian deaths—then was brought back, treated well, and appeared on ITN denying deaths. That denial became a cruel tool against Tamils.

¶ 05 [Expunged on the order of the Chair.]

¶ 06 The then Government—now seated in Opposition—stands accused internationally of crimes shown even by Channel 4: rapes and executions, bodies buried alive by bulldozers.

¶ 07 [Expunged on the order of the Chair.]

¶ 08 Today I asked an oral question regarding this same doctor, who lacks Board Certification, is not a Consultant but only acting as one. He was appointed with special Cabinet approval during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government, and later decorated with state honours, while mismanaging diaspora funds intended for the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. As a former hospital administrator, I know directors cannot arbitrarily use such funds. Development expenditures must pass through the Welfare/Hospital Development Society with annual audits. From 2009 to 2025, no development reports or audits from the Jaffna Teaching Hospital Welfare/Hospital Development Society have been sent to the Auditor-General. Only after I questioned, the GMOA mafia claimed the Jaffna Base Hospital was given equipment worth Rs. 17 million. During my tenure (2012 to 13 June 2024), no such equipment existed. Where did that Rs. 17 million go? When I exposed this to the public, the then Government jailed me for 19 days—because I sought justice for a mother and child who died in Mannar Hospital.

¶ 09 When I raised this here, the Deputy Minister of Health said they would not disclose that this doctor lacks Board Certification. In fact, he has none. I checked with Medical Services I (Lal Panapitiya), and an RTI was sent; three and a half months have passed without reply. The core issue is GMOA’s undue influence. In Jaffna, an individual touted as JMO is in fact only an MO Medico-Legal. Through fear, transfers and decisions are manipulated.

¶ 10 On 2 April at Tellippalai, a Muslim mother was admitted; until 11.00 p.m. no doctor saw her. A doctor attached to the Dialysis Unit—my friend Suyandan—was not on duty there. Under pressure from a senior doctor’s patronage network, there was a fight, and only at 11.00 p.m. was a private ambulance arranged to take her to the Northern Hospital. A complaint by the patient’s son to Tellippalai Police was not properly recorded. He then met the IGP and petitioned the National Police Commission. Yet no action has been taken due to the GMOA network.

¶ 11 Our Health Minister and authorities appear fearful that any action will trigger strikes. You came to power pledging to eradicate corruption; yet no action is taken, and I have to fight alone. Even today I hear GMOA is striking in Ampara. Unions may strike, but only after arbitration and negotiation—here they shut down OPDs without due process. As former Medical Superintendent of Chavakachcheri Base Hospital, I fought GMOA, lost my post and job, went to jail for 19 days, yet continue this anti-corruption struggle. I urge the 159 Government Members: please reflect.

¶ 12 To the Judges in the North: please consider our context. Every exposé I make triggers defamation suits—calling someone a “henchman” becomes defamation; even describing “stage-managed” misconduct becomes defamation. I face 25 such cases with no conviction so far.

¶ 13 Because the person concerned is linked to your party, you are covering up reasons behind the recent suicide of an officer named Amsi. Regarding the President’s remarks on war heroes, I repeat in Sinhala: we honour the war heroes. The President said those whom war heroes killed were also citizens of this country—meaning, stop weaponising the past and move forward.

¶ 14 Yesterday a Minister called me “Vasool Raja.” Add “MBBS” to that—I do not mind. We, along with Hon. Sumanthiran and Hon. Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, fought to withdraw recent land gazettes under the State Lands Ordinance. We look forward to discussing this with you on the 23rd. Help our people, and we will support the Government. Tamils do not mind who governs, so long as they deliver good to our people—we will support any Government that does so. We do not seek separation or conflict.

¶ 15 Please also act on complaints against individuals like Sathyamoorthy, Ketheeswaran, GMOA leaders, Mayooran, and Suyandan. We support the country’s development and will help prevent your Government from falling, but take action against these wrongdoers. Thank you.