The Hon. Kanthasamy Prabu

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today we debate the Easter Sunday attacks of 21 April 2019, one of the most heinous acts carried out to seize state power. At a time when people should have been living with inter-ethnic harmony and peace, rulers orchestrated a barbaric attack to create rifts between Muslims and Sinhalese or Muslims and Christians in order to retain or capture power.

¶ 02 This country suffered 30 years of war, plunging the economy into crisis. Politicians of that era, for their personal political needs or to grasp power, stoked divisions between Tamils and Sinhalese. The Jaffna Library, once the greatest library in Asia, was burned. Many such actions shattered ethnic unity. After the war ended, the Easter Sunday attacks were yet another racist operation.

¶ 03 In Batticaloa’s Zion Church, 31 died and 67 were disabled; many victims were children who had gone for Sunday services and were happily playing. It was an action that pushed the country into a dire state and disrupted ethnic unity. It was also a starting point toward economic collapse.

¶ 04 Tourism—a key revenue earner—suffered a severe setback. In 2018, Sri Lanka earned USD 4.38 billion from tourism; due to the 2019 attacks, it fell to USD 3.6 billion, a 17.7% decline. Many foreigners died, further reducing arrivals—about 18% down. Around 500,000 people directly and indirectly employed in the sector lost their livelihoods. The hotel industry too crashed; some hotels had to close.

¶ 05 GDP growth fell from 3.3% in 2018 to 2.3% in 2019. Government revenues—tax and non-tax—fell by Rs. 26-50 billion. Investor confidence fell; some pulled out; the stock market fell by 3.6%; foreign direct investment also declined.

¶ 06 Regarding Pillayan’s arrest mentioned here: if he is truly connected to the bombings, we, as the government, will pursue legal action without obstruction. A claim was made that we did deals to form control in Vakarai Pradeshiya Sabha—this is false. We did not deal with any party; we supported the best candidates. Instead, in Kaluwanchikudy PS, they bought over a TMVP member to gain control—that is the real story.

¶ 07 Such divisive acts must never be repeated. Thank you.