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- 25 July 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahman SJB AI summary Condolences were expressed on the deaths of several former Members, with particular tributes to Hon. Lucky Jayawardana and Hon. R. Sampanthan. Hon. Mujibur Rahman recalled Jayawardana’s service to the Kandy District and Sampanthan’s long parliamentary career, including his role as Opposition Leader and his efforts to seek a political solution to the ethnic question within a united Sri Lanka. He stated that Sampanthan’s efforts were not fulfilled due to resistance from southern political parties and recalled the 2016 Independence Day singing of the national anthem in Tamil as a significant moment. Condolence Debate: Late Hon. Members (R. Sampanthan, A. Pilapitiya, W. B. Ekanayake, Lucky Jayawardana, Malani Fonseka) Read →
- 25 July 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam conveyed condolences on behalf of his party to the families of the late former Members, recalling Malani Fonseka’s contribution to cinema, Lucky Jayawardana’s service in Kandy, W.B. Ekanayake, and Abeyratne Bandara Herath Pilapitiya’s parliamentary, provincial and gubernatorial roles, including his resignation during the Kalawana constitutional dispute. He devoted much of the speech to R. Sampanthan, describing his long parliamentary career, leadership of the Tamil National Alliance and Opposition, and commitment to Tamil political rights, devolution, reconciliation, accountability and a negotiated solution to the national question. He highlighted Sampanthan’s role during the Indo-Lanka Accord period, his legal challenge during the 2018 constitutional crisis, and his continued post-2009 advocacy for a democratic political settlement. Condolence Debate: Late Hon. Members (R. Sampanthan, A. Pilapitiya, W. B. Ekanayake, Lucky Jayawardana, Malani Fonseka) Read →
- 25 July 2025 The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen SJB AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen supported the condolence motion for five former Members, paying tribute to Aberatna Banda Herath Pilapitiya, W.B. Ekanayake, Lucky Jayawardena, Rajavarothiam Sampanthan, and Malini Fonseka for their public service and extending condolences to their families, districts, parties, and communities. He gave particular emphasis to Mr. Sampanthan’s role as TNA Leader and Opposition Leader, describing him as a moderate political figure who advocated through democratic means for Tamils, Muslims, Catholics, and Sinhalese. He urged contemporary politicians to learn from Sampanthan’s approach by avoiding communal blame, addressing injustices democratically, and building unity between Tamil and Muslim communities, especially in the North and East. Condolence Debate: Late Hon. Members (R. Sampanthan, A. Pilapitiya, W. B. Ekanayake, Lucky Jayawardana, Malani Fonseka) Read →
- 25 July 2025 The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Rauff Hakeem paid tribute during condolence motions to former MPs Aberatna Pilapitiya, Lucky Jayawardena, W.B. Ekanayake, Malini Fonseka and R. Sampanthan, recalling their parliamentary, provincial, ministerial and public contributions. He highlighted Pilapitiya’s role in UNP politics in Sabaragamuwa, Jayawardena’s service in Kandy and Udunuwara, Ekanayake’s work in the North Central Province, and Fonseka’s enduring contribution to Sinhala cinema and her collegial conduct in Parliament. He gave particular emphasis to Sampanthan, describing him as a statesman and leading Tamil parliamentary figure, noting his role in the TULF, post-1983 politics, the Indo-Lanka Accord process, the formation of the TNA, and his insistence that any North-East merger required Muslim consent. Condolence Debate: Late Hon. Members (R. Sampanthan, A. Pilapitiya, W. B. Ekanayake, Lucky Jayawardana, Malani Fonseka) Read →
- 25 July 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake responded to concerns about Provincial Council funding, stating that capital allocations for road development, construction, and recruitment have been increased threefold despite the country’s financial difficulties. He clarified that although the Road Development Authority may construct roads belonging to Local Authorities or Provincial Councils, ownership and administrative responsibility remain with the relevant institution unless formally transferred. He rejected the claim that these arrangements weaken the Provincial Council system and said allocations would be increased further next year. Oral Question: Ambilanthurai–Kokkaddichcholai Road Reconstruction (Q.184/2024) Read →
- 25 July 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam questioned why allocations for Bakkiella Road, Willukulam Road and Kiran Road could not be channelled through the Road Development Authority or Road Development Department without transferring Local Authority roads to the RDA. He argued that Local Authorities fall under Provincial Councils and asked that funding be provided without weakening or further reducing the powers of the Provincial Council system. Oral Question: Ambilanthurai–Kokkaddichcholai Road Reconstruction (Q.184/2024) Read →
- 25 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena JJB AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena clarified that the matter under discussion referred to Local Authorities, not Provincial Councils. Oral Question: Ambilanthurai–Kokkaddichcholai Road Reconstruction (Q.184/2024) Read →
- 25 July 2025 Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam called for a review of the Oral Questions process, noting long delays before submitted questions appear on the Order Paper. He raised concerns about deteriorated roads in Batticaloa District, explaining that many are under provincial or local authority ownership while funding remains largely with the Central Government. He asked whether the Ministry or the Road Development Authority could allocate specific funds or make arrangements to improve provincial and local authority roads, citing Ambilanthurai–Kokkaddichcholai, Villukkulam–Manalputti junction, and Pakkiyella–Vellaveli as examples. Oral Question: Ambilanthurai–Kokkaddichcholai Road Reconstruction (Q.184/2024) Read →
- 24 July 2025 The Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth SLMC AI summary M.S. Abthul Wazeeth urged the establishment of a separate zonal education office for Pothuvil, arguing that the current allocation of Muslim, Tamil and Sinhala schools to different zones amounts to ethnic segregation and undermines unity. He requested appointments for trained preschool teachers, long-pending appointments for Maulavis, and faster action on proposed South Eastern University tourism and Open University branches in Pothuvil. He also called for urgent measures against coastal erosion in Hidayapuram and for consultation with coastal small traders in Maruthamunai before the Coast Conservation Department removes temporary business structures. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) Read →
- 24 July 2025 The Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Ramanathan Archchuna invoked Black July and alleged continuing marginalisation of Tamil people, including through language access in Parliament and incomplete implementation of the 13th Amendment on devolution. He criticised government activity in Jaffna around the anniversary, argued that Provincial Councils were intended to manage areas such as education, agriculture and health, and said successive governments had failed to fully implement these powers. He also raised concerns about District Coordinating Committee procedures, citing a 2022 circular that limits National List MPs’ roles, and asked the Prime Minister to establish basic qualifications for ministerial and committee leadership appointments. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) Read →
- 24 July 2025 The Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy JJB AI summary Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy argued that education reform should go beyond curriculum changes to create a humane, values-based, multilingual system with improved infrastructure, trained human resources, employability pathways and reduced examination pressure. He highlighted low Grade 3 literacy and numeracy levels in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, calling for special attention to Tamil students and vocational training options for students unable to pass O/L examinations. He also raised concerns about language barriers in public services, inequitable school resources, and teacher transfer practices in the North and East, urging reforms to address staffing, district-level teacher cadres and basic facilities. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) Read →
- 24 July 2025 The Hon. Jeevan Thondaman UNP AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman argued that the “Ceylon Tea” brand should not depend on exploitation and called for greater state intervention to address long-standing inequities in the plantation sector. He supported proposed education reforms but said implementation must account for plantation communities’ limited access to quality education, teacher shortages, and historical disadvantages, including by considering alternative teacher recruitment and training models. He urged the Government to implement a previously approved Cabinet decision on estate medical offices and to address the lack of drugs, doctors, and services in 456 such facilities. He also requested revival of a World Bank/ADB-supported programme that provided morning meals and repairs for plantation crèches and daycare centres serving around 22,000 children. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) Read →
- 24 July 2025 The Hon. Jeevan Thondaman UNP AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman welcomed proposed education reforms but argued that implementation must address the historic exclusion and continuing infrastructure deficits faced by Hill Country Tamil communities, particularly in estate schools. He called for equitable resourcing, stronger provincial delivery, and withdrawal of a National Youth Services Council Gazette limiting youth clubs to one per GN division, saying it would reduce estate community representation. He also argued that housing schemes and renovation of line rooms are insufficient without secure land tenure for estate residents, and asked the Government to ensure transparency so public investment in estates is not misattributed to Regional Plantation Companies. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) Read →
- 24 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Elayathamby Srinath ITAK AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Elayathamby Srinath supported the proposed 2026 education reforms but urged that they be implemented equitably, noting past grievances such as standardization and unequal resource allocation affecting Tamil communities. He called for age-appropriate learning, reduced student stress, stronger vocational and employability skills, and balanced funding for national and provincial schools, including through a strengthened Provincial Council system. He also requested progress on devolution, Provincial Council elections, and the inclusion of Tamil historical narratives in the curriculum to promote mutual understanding and respect among communities. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) Read →
- 24 July 2025 The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy objected to the circulation of a Sinhala MP’s photograph with false claims among Tamil communities, warning that such actions could inflame ethnic tensions and lead to communal issues. He appealed to the Speaker to address or take note of the matter in the interest of preventing misinformation and communal discord. Oral Question: Fisheries Matter (Q.2) and Procedural Remarks Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Bhagya Sri Herath, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Bhagya Sri Herath cited a 1981 Hansard exchange in which Jaffna MP V. Yogeswaran condemned police arson in Jaffna while the House laughed, linking such incidents and the events of 1983 to the later decades-long war and its human and economic costs. He rejected attributing the causes solely to the 2019 government and ended by expressing support for Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities travelling together in friendship and peace towards Jaffna. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Susantha Kumara Nawarathna JJB AI summary Hon. Susantha Kumara Nawarathna supported the Companies Act amendment, linking it to Sri Lanka’s FATF anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing commitments and the need to identify beneficial owners behind companies and institutions. He argued that stronger disclosure and enforcement would help expose misuse of corporate structures, fraud involving public funds, and entities registered under proxies. He also responded to remarks about the NPP youth movement, referenced the burning of the Jaffna Library and reconciliation efforts with Tamil communities, and cited recent court rulings on the 2022 Aragalaya protests and reported increases in investment as part of the Government’s broader reform agenda. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC AI summary Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam marked Black July, alleging State complicity in the 1983 anti-Tamil violence and urging the Government to officially recognize the day as a national day of mourning rather than recast it as a message of “comradery.” While welcoming Companies Act amendments aimed at money laundering and illicit finance, he cautioned against focusing on terrorism financing without addressing the political grievances and State actions that he said fuel armed resistance. He raised concerns over unreleased lands in Valikamam North and Myliddy, alleging continued military occupation, agricultural use by the forces, and destruction of religious sites, and called on the Government to resolve these issues rather than rely on legislation alone. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. M.K.M. Aslam JJB AI summary Hon. M.K.M. Aslam supported the Companies Act amendments, saying they address legal deficiencies and require disclosure of beneficial ownership to reduce tax evasion and misuse of companies, including in relation to terrorism financing. He linked the debate to the anniversary of the 1983 anti-Tamil pogrom, arguing that past governments diverted public anger onto minorities and recalling similar concerns after the Easter attacks. He called for national unity beyond ethnic divisions and stated that the NPP Government would protect all communities and reject racism. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 23 July 2025 Hon. Thanura Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Thanura Dissanayake said July 23, 1983 should be remembered as a consequence of State-backed nationalism and anti-democratic actions under past governments, including the 1981 Jaffna DDC election. He argued that earlier parties used ethnic nationalism for political advantage, while the current National People’s Power Government seeks to build national unity, political stability, and reconciliation across all regions. He said the Government is linking stability to economic development, including Rs. 5 billion in development work in the North, reopening long-closed roads and bridges, and proposed broader social efforts such as a future Sri Lankan Day to promote unity. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Read →