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- 21 May 2026 The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB AI summary Hon. Lal Premanath stated that the Government had acted during the economic crisis to improve higher education, sanitation, estate hospital facilities, and wage entitlements for estate workers, while addressing exploitative labour practices. He rejected Opposition claims that the Government neglected people affected by the “8962” cyclone in Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, and Kandy, saying all possible measures had been taken. He argued that the Government was advancing equal opportunities and dignity for Malaiyaha communities and asserted that no citizen would be treated as second-class under the Malima Government. Adjournment Debate: Integration of Malaiyaha People into National Mainstream Read →
- 21 May 2026 The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB AI summary Hon. Lal Premanath said the Government has moved away from treating Malaiyaha people as a political vote bank and is working to integrate them as equal, dignified citizens rather than defining them only as estate or upcountry communities. He argued that previous governments failed to address their needs adequately and cited the Government’s policy framework, “A Prosperous Country – A Beautiful Life,” and the “Hatton Declaration” as guiding its approach. He stated that the Government is taking lawful steps on land, livelihood, housing, infrastructure, and social cohesion, while rejecting communal, regional, and divisive politics. Adjournment Debate: Integration of Malaiyaha People into National Mainstream Read →
- 21 May 2026 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Bimal Rathnayake noted that some Tamil leaders had presented and spoken on the matter in a particular way, implying their framing influenced how it was perceived. Adjournment Debate: Integration of Malaiyaha People into National Mainstream Read →
- 21 May 2026 The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB AI summary Mano Ganesan commended the conduct being referred to, stating that it was positive because it avoided introducing racism into the matter. Adjournment Debate: Integration of Malaiyaha People into National Mainstream Read →
- 21 May 2026 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Bimal Rathnayake said the Government was willing to work with members who have longstanding links with the affected communities, without considering electoral advantage. He cautioned against creating a chauvinist narrative around the incident, stating that relevant suspects had already been taken into custody and that the matter was not being treated as a Sinhala–Tamil issue. Adjournment Debate: Integration of Malaiyaha People into National Mainstream Read →
- 21 May 2026 Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake argued that formal equality is insufficient for hill country people due to their socio-economic and political marginalization. He called for affirmative action measures to achieve substantive equality. Adjournment Debate: Integration of Malaiyaha People into National Mainstream Read →
- 21 May 2026 Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and Leader of the House JJB AI summary Minister Bimal Rathnayake supported the Motion, stating that the Government accepts its core concerns about poverty and structural injustice affecting hill country communities. He identified factors such as the 1948 Citizenship Act, plantation enclave structures, line-room housing, geographic isolation, and caste-based vulnerability as causes of long-term deprivation and statelessness. He said housing, land and education issues must be addressed sincerely, noting Cabinet discussions on teacher shortages in hill country schools and the generational impact of past exclusion from citizenship and free education. Adjournment Debate: Integration of Malaiyaha People into National Mainstream Read →
- 21 May 2026 Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi JJB AI summary Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi responded to a Motion under Standing Order 19 on hill country issues, stating that despite past ministerial involvement by current Opposition representatives, unresolved problems remain in housing, land, roads, education, and health. She said the Government is acting under the Hatton Declaration and its policy programme, including steps to provide land deeds to over 500 schools in Nuwara Eliya, bring estate hospitals under the central Government, increase wages through the Budget, and begin housing construction. She highlighted ongoing housing projects for disaster-affected families at Kabaragala and Wolfrend, and called for cooperation in securing land ownership, services, and better prospects for hill country communities. Adjournment Debate: Integration of Malaiyaha People into National Mainstream Read →
- 21 May 2026 Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA AI summary Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan supported the Adjournment Motion on the rights and conditions of Malaiyagam Tamils, stating that his party recognizes them as a national community and will support their struggles. He highlighted landlessness, poverty, and the continuing “line room” housing system, including related problems faced by Malaiyagam Tamils serving as home guards in northern and eastern border areas. He urged the Government to give special attention to ending line-room living, resolving land issues, and improving basic rights and living conditions for the community. Adjournment Debate: Integration of Malaiyaha People into National Mainstream Read →
- 21 May 2026 Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB AI summary Minister Chandrasekar supported the Adjournment Motion and highlighted the historical hardships of hill country Tamils, including their transport from India, loss of citizenship after 1948, and the impact of the Sirima–Shastri Agreement. He recalled efforts through a parliamentary Select Committee to end statelessness and secure citizenship for affected people. He argued that present conditions, including line-room housing, show the need for focused action to improve education, health, housing, water, roads, and modern industry in the hill country. Adjournment Debate: Integration of Malaiyaha People into National Mainstream Read →
- 21 May 2026 Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep JJB AI summary Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep said legal steps would be taken to incorporate the relevant name appropriately in future. He criticized opposition to a proposed wage increase and called for Government and Opposition cooperation to secure sustainable development for hill country people, while inviting constructive advice and correction. He rejected claims of divisions within the JVP/NPP and said the Government would address hill country issues including land, education, health, and Tamil-language services in administration and Police stations through the appointment of Tamil-speaking officers. Adjournment Debate: Integration of Malaiyaha People into National Mainstream Read →
- 21 May 2026 Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake asked whether, given the consensus on the term “Malaiyagam people,” the Government plans to include it in school textbooks and university courses. Adjournment Debate: Integration of Malaiyaha People into National Mainstream Read →
- 21 May 2026 Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep - Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep rejected claims that the JVP was hostile to estate workers, citing hill country participation in JVP-led struggles, and argued that the current Government is correcting long-standing neglect in plantation communities. He said the Government has allocated about Rs. 60 billion to complete unfinished Indian housing scheme projects, is taking initial steps to provide land to schools and regularize temple lands in estates, and is addressing estate company violence through decisions taken at a meeting chaired by the Minister of Public Security. He emphasized recognition of “Malaiyagam people,” pledged progress on education, health, economic upliftment, and land ownership, and stated that the NPP Government had already increased wages and would grant land rights to enable dignified living. Adjournment Debate: Integration of Malaiyaha People into National Mainstream Read →
- 21 May 2026 Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB AI summary Hon. Mano Ganesan highlighted the longstanding deprivation of hill country Indian-origin Tamil communities and urged the Government to continue and expand initiatives begun by the Tamil Progressive Alliance, including plantation housing, land allocation, local government restructuring, new Divisional Secretariats and GN divisions, and the Hill Country Authority. He called for completing the remaining Indian-funded houses, increasing land allocations beyond ten perches, expanding Pradeshiya Sabhas and Divisional Secretariats in Nuwara Eliya, and properly funding mechanisms to improve livelihoods and services. He also referred to a recent meeting with the Minister of Public Security, stating that estate companies or others must not take the law into their own hands and that complaints involving hill country people should be handled by the Police. Adjournment Debate: Integration of Malaiyaha People into National Mainstream Read →
- 21 May 2026 Hon. Manjula Suraweera Arachchi JJB AI summary Hon. Manjula Suraweera Arachchi supported the Adjournment Motion on hill country issues and said the Government is implementing the Hatton Declaration to address long-neglected rights, housing, roads, land, education, and livelihood needs of estate communities. He cited planned measures including gazetting about 800 ungazetted estate roads in Nuwara Eliya, allocating Rs. 3,250 million for the Lindula-Dayagama road, rehabilitating disaster-damaged RDA roads, regularizing land for 968 Central Province schools, and providing Rs. 998 million for the Praja Shakthi programme in Nuwara Eliya. He urged MPs to avoid ethnic or local politicization of grievances, participate in District Coordinating Committees, and work collectively across party lines to deliver development and national unity. Adjournment Debate: Integration of Malaiyaha People into National Mainstream Read →
- 21 May 2026 Hon. Palani Thigambaram SJB AI summary Hon. Palani Thigambaram seconded the Adjournment Motion on land rights for hill country people, arguing that successive governments have failed to resolve the issue despite their contribution to foreign exchange earnings. He cited measures taken during the 2015 “Good Governance” Government, including housing projects, land deeds, expanded Divisional Secretariats and the Hill Country Authority, and urged the current Government to fulfil its Hatton Declaration promise by granting ten perches and land ownership to estate families. He said the Opposition would support any government move to provide land deeds and called on hill country government MPs to press the President to act. Adjournment Debate: Integration of Malaiyaha People into National Mainstream Read →
- 21 May 2026 Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan moved an Adjournment Motion highlighting deprivation in plantation regions and rising living costs, and argued that earlier initiatives on housing, land ownership, local administration, education, health, and a Hill Country Authority had sought to integrate hill country plantation communities into the national mainstream. He alleged that these programmes had not been continued under the present Government and that estate management intimidation, demolitions, violence, and displacement after Cyclone “Didwa” remained unresolved. He urged immediate Government intervention to stop intimidation and violence in plantation areas and prioritized granting suitable land ownership for housing to plantation families. Adjournment Debate: Integration of Malaiyaha People into National Mainstream Read →
- 21 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan said leave had been sought under Standing Order 19 for an urgent adjournment debate on integrating the Malaiyaha people into the national mainstream. He acknowledged the cooperation of Hon. Bimal Rathnayake and Hon. Kayanta Karunathilaka in facilitating the matter. Adjournment Debate: Integration of Malaiyaha People into National Mainstream Read →
- 21 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Elayathamby Srinath ITAK AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Elayathamby Srinath raised concerns that permitting rice imports, including a licence for 1,040 metric tons of Ponni rice, could undermine local paddy farmers amid high production costs and unsold stocks, and urged the Government to ensure fair Paddy Marketing Board procurement and prioritize domestic production. He also referred to Mullivaikkal remembrance events, calling for justice, a political solution for Tamil people, and Provincial Council elections, while welcoming development approvals following the President’s visit to Batticaloa. He further requested action on district land and security-related issues, including the Thandiyadi STF camp, archaeology and forest department disputes, and additional pastureland allocations for livestock in Batticaloa. Main Business: Debate on Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Appropriation Act Resolutions Read →
- 21 May 2026 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam raised a Standing Order 27(2) question on the continued detention of persons connected to the Tamil political struggle, particularly under the PTA, arguing that long delays and lengthy imprisonment raise issues of fairness, proportionality and equality. He asked the Ministry of Justice and National Integration for details on detainees, case status, steps to expedite indictments and trials, mechanisms to review prolonged detention, action on Presidential pardons, and implementation of the NPP manifesto commitment on political prisoners. He linked the issue to Mullivaikkal Remembrance Week and urged the President to show compassion, while also referring to the need for state support for public services such as the Batticaloa Public Library. Standing Order 27(2) Question: Political Prisoners and Interrogation Read →