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- 8 November 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan criticized the 2026 Budget for allocating comparatively high funding to defence while underfunding education and failing, in his view, to address Tamil political aspirations or the ethnic question. He questioned delays in holding Provincial Council elections and implementing the 13th Amendment, and called for accountability through international investigations into alleged wartime violations. He also argued that development priorities in the North and East should focus on land, drinking water, livelihoods, and specific projects such as Kankesanthurai Port, Palaly International Airport expansion, salt pans, the Valachchenai paper mill, and cement-related industry, rather than land sales or tourism-led policies. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Read →
- 24 October 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper argued that female Divisional Secretaries should be allowed to vote in the relevant elections, whether or not an amendment is made. He used a story from the Ummagga Jataka to illustrate that women have historically exercised sound judgment in decision-making. Adjournment Motion: Voting Rights for Female Divisional Secretaries at Diyawadana Nilame Election Read →
- 24 October 2025 The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan ITAK AI summary Gnanamuththu Srineshan paid condolences to the families of seven late former Members of Parliament and highlighted their service to their electorates. He focused on Hon. Manicavasagar Kanagasabapathy Eelaventhan, describing his long association with ITAK, the TULF and the TNA, his role as a Tamil nationalist activist, writer and orator, and his service as a National List MP from 2004. Srineshan noted Eelaventhan’s involvement in Tamil political struggles from the period of S.J.V. Chelvanayakam through the years of conflict, and said he continued to speak for affected Tamil people until his death in Canada at the age of 91. Votes of Condolence: Seven Former Members of Parliament Read →
- 24 October 2025 The Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan ITAK AI summary Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan paid tribute during a condolence debate to seven former Members of Parliament, with detailed remarks on the late M.K. Eelaventhan, a former TNA National List MP and long-time Tamil political activist. He recounted Eelaventhan’s education, Central Bank service, involvement in ITAK, TULF and later Tamil nationalist politics, exile in Tamil Nadu after 1983, return to Sri Lanka, parliamentary service, writings, speeches and advocacy for Tamil language, homeland and self-rule. He extended condolences to Eelaventhan’s family, the people of Trincomalee and ITAK, and also conveyed sympathy to the families of the other former Members being commemorated. Votes of Condolence: Seven Former Members of Parliament Read →
- 24 October 2025 The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC AI summary Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam associated himself with the condolence references for former Members of Parliament and paid particular tribute to the late Hon. Manicavasagar Kanagasabapathy Eelaventhan, a former TNA National List MP. He recalled Eelaventhan’s education, Central Bank service, long involvement in Tamil nationalist politics, and his consistent commitment to principle across the ITAK, TULF and TNA periods. He highlighted Eelaventhan’s role in Tamil political unity, his willingness to speak his conscience, and his continued activism in the Tamil diaspora after seeking asylum in Canada, while conveying respects to his family. Votes of Condolence: Seven Former Members of Parliament Read →
- 24 October 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan paid tribute to former MP M.K. Eelaventhan during the Vote of Condolence, recalling his long involvement in Tamil nationalist politics, his service as a National List MP from 2004 to 2007, and his work as a writer, speaker, and activist. He outlined Eelaventhan’s role in ITAK, TULF, the Vaddukoddai Resolution period, the Tamil Self-Rule Party, and later Tamil diaspora politics, while noting his career in the Central Bank and personal background. He described Eelaventhan as a major figure in articulating the demand for a separate Tamil State in the North and East and conveyed condolences to his family and to the families of all former Members being remembered. Votes of Condolence: Seven Former Members of Parliament Read →
- 24 October 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam questioned the credibility and functioning of the Office for Reparations, noting that many Tamil mothers had rejected previous compensation offers and that Budget 2025 allocations had reportedly not been disbursed. He highlighted past allocations and payments, including Rs. 800 million spent in 2024, and asked how the Government could justify the OFR’s work when three of its five members would have military or Defence Ministry backgrounds. He also referred to local administrative concerns, including Sinhala-only signage at Batticaloa Medical Campus, and said he would submit such issues in writing while seeking to resolve victim community concerns with the Prime Minister. Oral Answer: Human Rights Situation in Sri Lanka and Reparations (Q. raised 08.10.2025) Read →
- 24 October 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya – Prime Minister AI summary The Prime Minister stated that, with most of the Government’s term remaining, it would continue pursuing its stated strategies while prioritizing the rebuilding of trust with victim communities. She said the Government was willing to listen, compromise, and adjust tactics where needed, acknowledged problems in local initiatives, and requested the Minister of Justice and National Integration to address relevant institutional matters. Oral Answer: Human Rights Situation in Sri Lanka and Reparations (Q. raised 08.10.2025) Read →
- 24 October 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam rejected the Government’s proposed domestic mechanism for reconciliation and accountability, arguing that the victim community lacks trust in State-led processes and continues to call for an international investigation 16 years after the end of the war. He questioned the capacity and effectiveness of existing institutions, citing severe staffing shortages at the Office on Missing Persons and ONUR, as well as low utilization of allocated funds. He asked how the Government intends to address these institutional deficiencies and whether justice will continue to be delayed through further domestic bodies such as the proposed TRC. Oral Answer: Human Rights Situation in Sri Lanka and Reparations (Q. raised 08.10.2025) Read →
- 24 October 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam noted that doctor transfers directly affect hospital services, including childbirth deliveries, and are therefore relevant to the issue under discussion. He also raised concerns about the Eastern Province Governor’s role in transfers and requested that the matter be examined. Oral Question: Health Service Delivery - Supplementary Questions and Answers Read →
- 23 October 2025 The Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel JJB AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel supported the national programme to eliminate drugs and organized crime, rejecting Opposition claims that it was a “drama” and arguing that drug abuse threatens youth, women, families, and all communities across ethnic and religious lines. She called for a society-wide response involving not only police and the military but also religious leaders, women, principals, teachers, and families, warning that drugs may affect households without their knowledge. Referring to Deepavali as a symbol of dispelling darkness, she urged unity beyond ethnic divisions to eradicate the drug menace and protect future generations. Adjournment Debate: Organized Crime, Drug Trafficking and Nation Together Programme (Ratama Ekata) Read →
- 23 October 2025 The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir ACMC AI summary Hon. M.A.M. Thahir welcomed the adjournment motion on controlling drug operations and said drug trafficking and organized crime must be addressed through stronger arrests and punishments. He linked the drugs problem, particularly in the North and East, to alleged past involvement of military, naval, police personnel or deserters, arguing that it had targeted Muslim and Tamil communities and affected education. He also referred to post-2009 communal violence, the “Grease Devil” incidents, Aluthgama and Digana riots, and the Easter attacks, calling on the government to identify and disclose those behind such events and to resolve tensions between Christian and Muslim communities. Adjournment Debate: Organized Crime, Drug Trafficking and Nation Together Programme (Ratama Ekata) Read →
- 23 October 2025 The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC AI summary Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam argued that drug use in the North and East was minimal in areas influenced or controlled by the LTTE during the ceasefire period, while it increased after the military took control, particularly after 2009. He alleged that military involvement and police inaction have contributed to the spread of narcotics, including claims that suspected traffickers seek refuge in army camps and complaints are not recorded. He contended that drug prevention requires accountable administration by and for the affected communities, linking the issue to broader demands for local control over safety, welfare, education, health, and resolution of the national question. Adjournment Debate: Organized Crime, Drug Trafficking and Nation Together Programme (Ratama Ekata) Read →
- 23 October 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Asked the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development for detailed information on Sri Lanka Railways’ revenue and staffing in the Northern and Eastern Provinces from 2012 to 2019. He requested annual income figures for the Railways overall and separately for the Northern and Eastern Provinces, language-wise staffing details at northern railway stations, the number and classification of railway stations in both provinces, station counts on the Vavuniya–Kankesanthurai and Medawachchiya–Talaimannar lines, and an explanation for the absence of first-class sleeping compartments on Jaffna-bound trains. Oral Question: Train Services to North and East (Q.3/2025) Read →
- 22 October 2025 Hon. Fasmin Sharif JJB AI summary Hon. Fasmin Sharif supported the Special Commodity Levy Act and related Orders, arguing that structured levies on essential imports such as sugar, onions and pulses would prevent fraud, stabilize consumer prices, reduce administrative burdens, and protect domestic producers by aligning imports with local production and demand. He also addressed concerns over Muslim burials, stating that the Justice Minister had clarified there would be no imposed delays except in exceptional cases requiring a Magistrate’s recommendation. He further said Qur’an copies previously kept in poor conditions had been secured for proper release, and that steps were being taken to legally vest and develop Ambuluwawe as a public asset. He concluded by urging against statements that create ethnic or religious disharmony and affirmed equal rights for all communities. Debate: Rules under Excise Ordinance and Special Commodity Levy Order (Session 2) Read →
- 21 October 2025 Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth used the debate on Regulations under the NMRA Act to raise health service deficiencies in several areas of Ampara District, requesting the upgrading of Irakkamam Grade “C” divisional hospital and the establishment of an obstetrics unit there. He called for completion and full operation of the Ayurvedic Research Hospital in Nintavur, citing its intended research and indigenous medicine role. He also sought action on staff shortages and facility upgrades in Pottuvil, including appointment of public health midwives, upgrading Komari PMCU, returning its ambulance, improving Savalai PMCU, providing additional staff, accommodation, safety measures such as elephant fencing, and moving towards 24-hour service. Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 Read →
- 21 October 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC AI summary Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah raised concerns that Muslims, who comprise 30 percent of the relevant Divisional Secretariat Division, have not received titles or permits for long-occupied State lands and are being neglected. He alleged that eviction cases and other actions by the Secretariat are being pursued selectively against Muslims, and requested the Ministry to appoint a team to investigate and take appropriate action. Oral Question 4: Occupants of State Lands in Manmunai Pattu DS Division Read →
- 21 October 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah raised concerns that residents living on State lands in the Manmunai Pattu Divisional Secretary’s Division, where Muslims comprise about 30 percent of the population, have long been denied Deeds of Grant or Land Permits. He asked whether action could be taken to address this neglect and regularize their land rights. Oral Question 4: Occupants of State Lands in Manmunai Pattu DS Division Read →
- 10 October 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper supported the Motion as a basis for broader education reform, urging that civics be taught within a wider social studies framework including history, geography, ethics, rights and responsibilities. He argued that such education should begin at the primary level and be practical rather than exam-focused, while incorporating awareness of Fundamental Rights such as freedom of expression and association under Article 14 of the Constitution. He also referenced Sri Lanka’s historical cultural ties, including with India, and said education should promote identity, belonging, and understanding of regional obligations. Private Members' Motion P.43/2025: Integrating Law and Ethics to School Curriculum Read →
- 10 October 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa said he opposes political parties formed on the basis of religion, ethnicity, caste or class, but argued that such parties emerge when mainstream parties fail to address community grievances fairly. Referring to post-Easter attack communal tensions and examples from India, he said these political formations cannot be curtailed until just solutions are provided and the fundamental rights of non-Sinhala communities are protected. Private Members' Motion P.41/2025: Ruwanpura Expressway Read →