The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, I did not come to this House to attend an archaeology lesson by the Hon. Minister. We agree on the importance of protecting antiquities and the Antiquities Law. But we are here to speak about the issues of our people.

¶ 02 You say this is not a Buddhist-only institution. But if you look at 1020, you have put the Dharma Chakra right in front of it. Tomorrow, please also put a Cross and a Trident and the symbols of all religions there; then you can say it is not a Buddhist institution.

¶ 03 You said there is no bar for religious worship and that tickets are not being charged. There is no need to teach our people how to perform their religious observances. Preventing the lighting of a camphor flame or stopping the breaking of a coconut as a votive offering—those are what I call restrictions on worship. I never spoke about tickets.

¶ 04 You conveniently omitted responding to the 58 illegal shops constructed by persons who are not Tamil. You categorically failed to mention even a word about the illegal Thaiyiddy Viharaya. That itself shows bias in your Answer.

¶ 05 Hon. Minister, you do not need to explain how I should speak. The President will speak in one way, the Speaker in one way, and you in another. You cannot say I am wrong in how I speak. That is my freedom of speech. You do not need to explain that.

¶ 06 You said the Department of Archaeology has not prohibited fishing in the tank. Please come and see the place. Our Hon. Member for the area is here.

¶ 07 [Interruption by the Chair asking to shorten the Question.]

¶ 08 Yes, Sir, I am winding up.

¶ 09 At the Batticaloa District Development Committee meeting chaired by your Hon. Minister Sunil Handunnetti, it was stated that this was not built by the Department of Archaeology. The Army camp at Nelukalmalai is what built it. Your Ministry’s Department of Archaeology had no oversight; the Ministry of Cultural Affairs did not fund it at that time. This was a project begun when Anuradha Yahampath was Governor.

¶ 10 People expect that those in a National People’s Power Government will treat all communities equally and fairly. Yet you place the blame for the mistakes of others on us. Your actions and views on archaeology-related matters show otherwise.

¶ 11 [Interruption by the Chair asking to shorten.]

¶ 12 Sir, I am winding up. As People’s Representatives we highlight people’s problems. What was your Answer today?

¶ 13 [Interruption by the Chair.]

¶ 14 Hon. Speaker, I am winding up. There is allocated time for this. Just because the Hon. Minister took too long to answer, that is not my problem. You should have asked him to shorten his Answer.

¶ 15 [Chair: You have already taken three minutes.]

¶ 16 Under Standing Orders and as agreed at the Parliamentary Business Committee, there are clear understandings on Standing Order 27(2) Questions and responses. In light of that, please give me my time.

¶ 17 [Chair: You have taken three minutes for clarification.]

¶ 18 I have five minutes. Read the Standing Orders.

¶ 19 [Chair: No, that five minutes is to raise the Question.]

¶ 20 No, five minutes to raise—

¶ 21 [Chair: No, no.]

¶ 22 Okay, okay.

¶ 23 [Chair: Hon. Member, do not argue.]

¶ 24 Hon. Speaker, you take the most time in this House, obstructing Members from speaking.

¶ 25 [Chair: No, no. Please wind up.]

¶ 26 Sir, I have to wind up my response. I cannot just stop because you want me to.

¶ 27 Hon. Minister, you say even to fix a new electricity meter box we must check the law. Thanthamalai is a site where Saivite worship has taken place for thousands of years—long before you and I were born. If someone dies of electrocution there, will you be responsible? Thanthamalai should not even be gazetted. As you said, in Batticaloa District in the past, problems arose because the Department of Archaeology did not respect Sri Lankan law.

¶ 28 [Chair: Hon. Member, now you have to stop.]

¶ 29 Okay, since the Hon. Speaker does not wish to permit me—