Topic
Ethnic Reconciliation & Devolution
885 speeches · 164 speakers
Party share
By the speaker's party · counts only, no scoring. "Unattributed" = speeches not resolved to an MP.
Most active on this topic
| # | Member | Speeches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, M.P. Independent Group 17 - Jaffna | 67 |
| 2 | Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, M.P. ITAK | 51 |
| 3 | Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan, M.P. ITAK | 48 |
| 4 | Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam, M.P. ACTC | 37 |
| 5 | Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran, M.P. ITAK | 30 |
| 6 | Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, M.P. JJB | 27 |
| 7 | Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe, M.P. SLMC | 25 |
| 8 | Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, M.P. SLMC | 25 |
| 9 | Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar, M.P. JJB | 24 |
| 10 | Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, M.P. JJB | 19 |
Speeches
885 on this topic- 3 December 2025 The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA AI summary Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan expressed condolences for those killed or missing in the disaster and urged Members to avoid blame and work collectively on relief and rebuilding. He thanked India, Tamil Nadu, the President, government officials, local authorities, volunteers and the Tri-Forces for their assistance, while requesting special attention to the badly affected Vanni area, particularly Mannar. He called for non-discriminatory assistance to all affected citizens, welcomed the Rs. 25,000 grant for cleaning flooded homes, and asked that it be extended to all affected families. He cited district-level impact figures for Mannar, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya, noting losses to homes, livestock, farmers and fishing gear, and said he would table the relevant report. Debate: Continued Committee Stage of Appropriation Bill 2026 (Ministry Expenditure Heads - Multiple Speakers) Read →
- 3 December 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya responded that concerns raised about the history curriculum would be conveyed to the relevant course team and considered by education experts responsible for curriculum development and module review. She stated that history is presented as Sri Lankan history encompassing all communities, rather than as separate Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim histories. Oral Question by Private Notice: History of Tamil Kings in School Curriculum Read →
- 3 December 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan corrected the Prime Minister’s account of Tamil historical periods, distinguishing the Sangam, Post-Sangam, Chola and Nayakar periods and noting that figures such as Kulakkottan, Pararajasekaran, Cankiliyan and Pandara Vanniyan form part of Tamil historical identity. He said lessons on Pandara Vanniyan and Cankiliyan that existed in earlier Tamil curricula had been removed, and requested that these elements of Tamil history be reinstated in the curriculum. Oral Question by Private Notice: History of Tamil Kings in School Curriculum Read →
- 3 December 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that works by Tamil artists are included in modern art studies as part of a broad Sri Lankan artistic tradition, without ethnic or religious categorisation. She said Tamil visual arts scholars have been involved in curriculum and teacher guide preparation since 2015, and that the new education reform review panels also include Tamil-medium experts to revise visual arts materials. Oral Question by Private Notice: History of Tamil Kings in School Curriculum Read →
- 3 December 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary The Prime Minister answered a Standing Order 27(2) question by Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan, stating that Tamil rulers and polities, including the Jaffna Kingdom, the Vanniyars and Sankili rulers, are included in the current and reformed History curriculum as part of Sri Lankan history rather than as a separate ethnic history. She outlined National Museums holdings and publications relating to Tamil history, including inscriptions, Hindu religious artefacts, Setu coins, palm-leaf manuscripts and scholarly works. She also stated that the reformed Art curriculum includes South Indian and wider Indian artistic traditions and their influence on Sri Lankan art, including Hindu iconography and sites such as the Polonnaruwa Siva Devalaya. Oral Question by Private Notice: History of Tamil Kings in School Curriculum Read →
- 3 December 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan, raising a question under Standing Order 27(2), asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education about the inclusion of Tamil history in the school curriculum. He argued that the histories of Tamil rulers and figures such as Sankili, Pandara Vanniyan, Nallanaachiyar, Ellalan and Arumuga Navalar have been omitted or reduced in textbooks, particularly since the 1980s. He asked whether the Government would include these histories in History, Tamil and Art subjects, give separate recognition to Tamil history, and ensure the preservation of Tamil historical symbols, inscriptions and ola manuscripts. Oral Question by Private Notice: History of Tamil Kings in School Curriculum Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Rasamanickam marked Maaveerar Naal by acknowledging the Government’s current allowance of commemorations in the North and East, while urging that participants not later face arrests or harassment under laws such as the PTA. In the Committee Stage debate on Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, he argued that state-backed irrigation and Mahaweli-related schemes had contributed to demographic change and land alienation in the North and East, linking this to the origins of the conflict and the need for a political solution. He criticized the Mahaweli Authority’s role in land allocation, citing Batticaloa’s Mayilathamadu–Mathavani pasture issue and the need for at least 7,000 acres for livestock farmers, as well as concerns over settlement and projects in Trincomalee, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Kivul Oya. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam welcomed allocations for agriculture-related services, including market access, but requested cold storage facilities at the Vavuniya Economic Center and phased rehabilitation of minor irrigation tanks in Vavuniya, where many tanks are damaged or abandoned. He urged transparent consultations on the Kivul Oya project, citing concerns that it could submerge lands and village tanks of longstanding Tamil residents and lead to conflict. He also called for expanded support to dairy farmers nationwide, including veterinary staff, transport, essential medicines, and enforcement of indicative prices for milk and meat. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB AI summary Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar criticised the Opposition’s contributions to the debate on the Ministries of Digital Economy, Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, and Science and Technology, saying they lacked substantive proposals for the fisheries sector and focused instead on personal and communal attacks. He rejected allegations that the JVP was racist, stating that the party had treated Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim citizens equally and citing its electoral support in Jaffna and Vanni. He concluded by thanking Members who contributed constructively and the ministry officials and parliamentary staff who supported the preparation and conduct of the debate. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC AI summary G.G. Ponnambalam marked Prabhakaran’s birth anniversary and argued that political actors, including the JVP, have had to acknowledge Tamil nationalist history to engage with the North and East. He criticized fisheries policy in the North and East, saying post-war revival has been inadequate, Mayiliddy Harbour development has not benefited local small-scale fishers, Indian bottom trawling remains unresolved, and sea cucumber leases should prioritize local communities over politically connected outsiders. He urged the Fisheries Minister to ensure development first benefits war-affected local fishers and called for stronger action with India. He also proposed a holistic digital economy strategy for the North and East, citing Jaffna’s IT graduates, diaspora links, lower costs, land availability, and potential for tech parks, startups, and cross-border partnerships with South India. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 25 November 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam urged the Government to retain and strengthen History in the school curriculum, arguing that it should include the history of Tamil kingdoms, Tamil positions during constitutional reforms, and post-Independence grievances to promote equality among communities. He said recent Government actions had hurt the Tamil community and reiterated that a permanent political solution was needed. He also clarified a controversy over Archaeology Department nameboards in Batticaloa, stating that media reports were inaccurate and that, under the Pradeshiya Sabhas Act and a court order, authority for such installations lay with the Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth urged expanded higher education access in Pottuvil, including an Open University regional study centre and locating the South Eastern University’s Hospitality and Tourism Management Faculty there to support tourism-linked education around Arugam Bay. He called for a separate Pottuvil Zonal Education Office, arguing that current ethnic and geographic division of nearby schools among three zones creates long travel distances and weakens supervision and services. He also requested facilities and staffing support for Pottuvil Central College, including a teachers’ hostel, modern auditorium, non-academic staff, and permanent security personnel. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB AI summary Hon. Mano Ganesan urged the Government to reform the school system to promote national reconciliation by moving away from segregated religious and ethnic schooling and ensuring Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim children study together. He asked the Prime Minister and Education Minister to examine the reduction of Tamil-medium classes in Colombo national schools such as Royal, D. S. Senanayake and Isipathana, and to allocate classes proportionately given Colombo’s Tamil-speaking population. He also called for affirmative attention to plantation and other marginalized schools, noting their late integration into the national education system and the impact of non-functioning Provincial Councils on education administration. He proposed appointing language-appropriate Additional Directors at provincial and zonal levels, including Tamil-speaking education officers in areas such as Nuwara Eliya, to address student, teacher and administrative issues in the relevant medium. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya said the education reforms aim to identify and address inequalities so that all children can access quality education without discrimination. Responding to Hon. Mano Ganesan, she stated that reconciliation-related themes would be incorporated into the core curriculum through transversal skills modules intended to provide common civic knowledge and experiences for all students. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB AI summary Mano Ganesan addressed the Prime Minister in her capacity as Minister of Education, welcoming the focus on education reforms but asking where the reform programme specifically addresses national reconciliation. He also asked what attention is being given to underprivileged groups, noting that he had raised both issues in the relevant Subcommittee. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen SJB AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen raised the shortage of space and classrooms at the 73-year-old Dehiwala Meelad Tamil School, noting that around 500 students attend, some study outdoors, and many applications remain pending. He said earlier plans to use the unused Sumangala school were obstructed, and urged the relevant area representative to allocate one of four alternative sites identified by education officials. He proposed retaining the current premises as a primary school and establishing facilities for Grades 6 and above elsewhere, with community and business funding for construction, to address overcrowding and avoid further tensions. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan argued that the Malaiyaha/plantation community has faced a historic education deficit because free education did not effectively reach estates until decades after independence. He requested special measures for the 864 plantation schools, including upgrading A/L schools, improving infrastructure, continuing programmes such as “Nearest School the Best School,” and appointing science, mathematics, and teaching assistant staff to address severe teacher shortages. He cited past foreign and budgetary allocations for plantation education, asked the Minister to resolve court-related delays to recruiting 3,000 teacher assistants, and sought clarification on whether plantation schools with low enrolment are to be closed. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK AI summary Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran welcomed proposed education reforms and allowances in the 2026 Budget, but questioned whether they would address persistent inequities in the North and East, particularly in Vanni. He raised concerns over the lack of preschool standardization, teacher shortages in Northern primary education, weak early literacy and numeracy outcomes, incomplete school buildings, and severe shortages or breakdowns of ICT, laboratory and WASH facilities. He asked whether the Budget would fund practical measures such as trained preschool teachers, repairs and completion of facilities, functioning computers and internet access for all schools, and adequate sanitation, arguing that current resource constraints undermine both existing curricula and planned reforms. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 The Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel JJB AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel raised concerns that many NYSC courses are conducted only in Sinhala, causing difficulties and dropouts among Tamil students, especially in Badulla and Nuwara Eliya. She asked whether Tamil-medium sections in institutions such as NAITA, VTA and NYSC would be strengthened, and proposed establishing centres to provide language training and direct students into new agriculture and tourism-oriented courses in areas such as Bandarawela and Neluwa. Oral Question: National Youth Services Council Training Centres in Tamil Medium (Q.2/2025) Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi JJB AI summary Confirmed that the matter under discussion applies to all districts in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Adjournment Motion: Land Issues in Verugal DS Division, Trincomalee Read →