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- 14 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC AI summary Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah urged the Government to hold Provincial Council Elections without delay. He argued that democratic representation is necessary for addressing public needs and that leaving governance entirely to officials is not democratic. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill 2026 – Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 14 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC AI summary Provincial Councils were described as having previously supported better administration, while their current inactivity has left governance under officials and adversely affected the North and East. The member urged the Government to use the Budget allocations provided for Provincial Council Elections and proceed with holding those elections. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill 2026 – Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 13 November 2025 The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC AI summary G.G. Ponnambalam said his party supports the Government’s campaign against drugs, but argued that it will fail in the North and East unless alleged military involvement in the spread of drugs is addressed. He claimed this problem stems from wartime counter-insurgency practices and persists due to the continued heavy military presence, citing reported refusal by police to record complaints and discussions at District Coordinating Committees. He criticized the Deputy Minister of Defence for denying the allegations and urged the Government to confront the issue as part of its anti-drug policy. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 12 November 2025 The Hon. Ismail Muththu Mohamed AI summary Hon. Ismail Muththu Mohamed supported the 2026 Budget’s stated objectives and anti-drug and anti-corruption measures, but urged that the 37 initiatives and development projects be implemented equitably rather than on political considerations. He highlighted the long-term impact of the LTTE’s expulsion of Northern Muslims, welcomed the Rs. 5,000 million allocation for internally displaced persons’ housing, and asked that locally displaced people not be sidelined, including where lands have been gazetted as forest or wildlife areas. He also requested funding to complete stalled school, tank, and housing projects in his district, expressed concern over past treatment of Muslims during COVID-19 and after the Easter attacks, and called for imported copies of the Holy Qur’an held by Customs to be released without delay. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 12 November 2025 The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB AI summary Hon. Mano Ganesan urged the Government to strengthen, not undermine, the Authority for Up-country development, noting its role in coordinating multiple ministries for a historically disadvantaged community that received citizenship and education access late. He questioned a Planters’ Association of Ceylon letter rejecting the Authority and asked the Minister to verify a previous Rs. 5 million Budget allocation under President Ranil Wickremesinghe. He argued that plantation-region development should go beyond wages to include land rights and housing for all residents, including non-workers, and called for implementation of Indian-funded housing and related commitments, referencing the Government’s Hatton Declaration. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 12 November 2025 The Hon. U.P. Abeywickrama, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. U.P. Abeywickrama defended the NPP Government’s first year in office, citing economic stabilization, fiscal discipline, improved revenue collection, targeted welfare support, tourism recovery, and the holding of two elections. He said the Government had strengthened social cohesion, democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and the independence of judicial and investigative institutions. He praised President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Budget presentation and criticised the Opposition for failing to offer substantive or constructive criticism. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 12 November 2025 The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar JJB AI summary Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar stated that ongoing development programmes aim to rebuild public confidence and promote unity, equality, and interfaith harmony among all ethnic communities. He announced that a “Sri Lankan Day” would be held in December to bring citizens together under one flag, and called for cooperation in transforming Jaffna into a progressing region free from political mafias. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 12 November 2025 The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB AI summary The Minister argued that the 2026 Budget is viewed in the North and by Tamil-speaking communities as inclusive and supportive of national unity, while criticizing opposition parties for relying on grievance-based politics. He highlighted serious challenges in the North and East, including population decline, emigration, poverty, falling educational performance, reduced parliamentary representation, and drug-related criminal activity. He urged greater attention to local issues in the Budget debate and said the Government would take measures to improve education and address the social and economic problems affecting those regions. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 12 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Elayathamby Srinath ITAK AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Elayathamby Srinath commended the Government and the President for action against narcotics and corruption and for efforts to maintain a just administration. He urged the Government to make a firm decision on Tamil rights and stated that he would support future government programmes where they are appropriate. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe requested financial and higher education support to establish a Faculty of Medicine at the South Eastern University, citing regional healthcare needs and nearby hospitals. He also urged Parliament, the relevant Ministers, and party leaders to reach consensus on holding Provincial Council elections, suggesting they be conducted under the previous system and noting the President’s allocation of Rs. 10 billion for the purpose. Debate: Second Reading of 2026 Budget Bill (Day 3, Afternoon/Evening) Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir ACMC AI summary Hon. M.A.M. Thahir welcomed the Rs. 300 million Budget allocation to renovate a long-incomplete building in Nintavur, linking it to earlier efforts by late M.H.M. Ashraff and thanking officials and political leaders involved in securing the funding. He said the Opposition’s role is to raise public concerns, and questioned whether minority areas in Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee had received promised development support, including Indian aid. He called for action on coastal erosion and the inactive fisheries jetty linked to Oluvil Port, compensation for affected landowners, improvements to the unsafe Kalmunai public market and municipal facilities, and the issuance of long-pending permits and better facilities for academics. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan ITAK AI summary Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan welcomed positive Budget indicators and allocations for Batticaloa infrastructure, while arguing that economic progress also requires resolving the national ethnic question and addressing war-related accountability, disappearances, political prisoners, land issues, and alleged wartime sexual violence through credible investigations. He urged urgent action on North and East basic needs, including clean drinking water, kidney disease prevention, staffing wildlife offices to address human-elephant conflict, and resolving grazing land restrictions. He also raised concerns over The Finance Company PLC depositors, pension anomalies, and welcomed the stated decision to withdraw the Army from Maaveerar resting places. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam raised concerns that, during post-war reconstruction of the Northern Line, traditional railway crossings in areas not yet resettled were closed, including a long-used pathway near Omanthai station. He asked whether the Ministry, with local authorities and the Railway Department, would consult the public to identify and provide necessary crossings within the year, and welcomed the proposal for parallel roads along the railway line to address residents’ access issues promptly. Oral Question: Vavuniya-Kilinochchi Section of Northern Railway Line – Dilapidated Railway Crossings (Q.1085/2025) Read →
- 8 November 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper argued that the suspension by the Governor of a Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha proposal to use members’ funds was politically motivated, linked to the Government’s failure to control that local authority. Citing the 2026 Budget Speech on a proposed new mechanism for Treasury contributions to local authorities, he said such funding powers could be applied arbitrarily through Governors and should instead rest with elected provincial leadership. He called for any mechanism for local authority funding to be applied equally and not used for partisan purposes. Adjournment Motion: Suspension of Development Projects Approved by Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha Read →
- 8 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment JJB AI summary Minister Dammika Patabendi responded to an adjournment motion by Hon. Kabir Hashim, rejecting allegations that the Governor had improperly suspended 47 rural roads and other projects in Mawanella. He said a committee had been appointed to inquire into the projects and that activities were only temporarily held pending its report, including proposals he claimed may have served private interests. He accused Hashim of undermining the local mandate in Mawanella and urged him not to interfere with governance or mislead Parliament. He also listed ongoing government initiatives in Mawanella, including the bus stand expansion, hospital doctors’ quarters, depot development, stone bridge conservation, drainage improvements, and tourism plans. Adjournment Motion: Suspension of Development Projects Approved by Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha Read →
- 8 November 2025 The Hon. R.M. Samantha Ranasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. R.M. Samantha Ranasinghe responded to an adjournment motion by Hon. Kabir Hashim, rejecting allegations that the Sabaragamuwa Governor improperly obstructed 41 development proposals approved by the Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha. He argued that objections had been raised within the Sabha and through a petition, and that the Provincial Commissioner’s report found some proposals fell outside the Sabha’s subject scope, including roads under other authorities or subject to litigation. He defended the Governor’s actions as based on official review and accused the local administration of attempting to shift responsibility for governance and waste management issues onto the Governor. Adjournment Motion: Suspension of Development Projects Approved by Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha Read →
- 8 November 2025 The Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala SJB AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala seconded Hon. Kabir Hashim’s motion, arguing that Provincial Commissioners or Governors should not obstruct local authorities from using their own unanimously approved funds for road development. He alleged that, after the local government elections, bodies not controlled by the Government had faced restrictions, including in funding, appointments of Chairmen, and implementation of members’ proposals. He called on the Minister to intervene, questioned the legal authority for such obstruction absent corruption, and warned that affected local bodies may seek court action if it continues. Adjournment Motion: Suspension of Development Projects Approved by Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha Read →
- 8 November 2025 The Hon. M.K.M. Aslam JJB AI summary Hon. M.K.M. Aslam welcomed the 2026 Budget, framing it as a comprehensive post-bankruptcy development plan focused on inclusive growth, export diversification, debt sustainability, rural poverty reduction, digitalization and housing. He argued that allocations such as public sector salary increases, education funding, village-level housing, Kankesanthurai Harbour development, Vattuvagal Bridge rehabilitation and Nintavur auditorium completion benefit all regions rather than particular ethnic or geographic groups. He urged MPs to move away from North-South or ethnic divisions, and emphasized the Government’s stated priorities of eliminating narcotics, underworld activity and corruption while creating a peaceful environment. He also defended measures such as the estate workers’ wage increase and questioned the Opposition’s record on delivering development to northern areas. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Read →
- 8 November 2025 The Hon. Nanda Bandara JJB AI summary Hon. Nanda Bandara defended the 2026 Appropriation Bill as a structured Budget based on inclusive growth, export diversification, debt sustainability, productive economic strengthening, rural poverty eradication and digitization. He highlighted a Rs. 25 billion allocation, including Rs. 1 billion per district, to strengthen rural economies, and argued that the Government is operating collectively and ethically while rejecting Opposition claims of authoritarianism. He criticized ethnic nationalist politics in the North, citing Budget allocations and ongoing infrastructure work there, and responded to concerns about official travel and vehicles by saying overseas delegations are limited and state vehicles are provided for public service rather than private permits. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Read →
- 8 November 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna said he would not describe the Budget as bad, arguing that it should be judged by the public and characterizing it as being in the Government’s “honeymoon” period. He complained that the Budget had not provided for the North, citing poor roads and difficulties faced by schoolchildren, and objected to Tamils being labelled as terrorists. Much of the intervention involved disputes over speaking time, interruptions, and remarks later expunged by the Chair. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Read →