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- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen SJB AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen urged the Government to complete and fund delayed infrastructure and public service projects in the North, East, Puttalam, and Mannar, including the Silavathurai cultural hall, hospital upgrades, roads, canals, bridges, and resettlement facilities for displaced communities. He called for restoration of withdrawn allocations for IDP areas, urgent rehabilitation of flood-prone bridges and waterways such as Mavadipalli Bridge and Senanayake Samudraya, and faster implementation of Indian-funded projects for Mannar Hospital and aquaculture development. He also requested reopening closed Sathosa outlets, practical support for SMEs, protection of Mannar’s tourism potential from mineral sand extraction, revival of connectivity with Rameswaram, and action on Forest Department land designation issues affecting local communities. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB AI summary Hon. Mano Ganesan objected to references to the late Ranasinghe Premadasa and demands that his son apologise, calling such remarks inappropriate. He urged the Government to move beyond rhetoric and state concrete policies for hill country people, specifically asking for its land and housing plans, whether housing would be apartments or individual houses, and how much land would be allocated. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB AI summary Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha argued that the 2025 Budget largely continues the economic programme associated with Ranil Wickremesinghe rather than presenting a distinct policy shift under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. He reviewed post-independence economic policy, citing both achievements in agriculture, free trade zones and apparel, and missed opportunities from nationalization, weak export diversification, opposition to private higher education and trade agreements, and past political instability. He questioned whether the Budget advances meaningful devolution for the North and East beyond the Thirteenth Amendment and called for substantial allocations to eliminate plantation line rooms and provide proper housing for the Malayagam community. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 22 February 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam seconded the Adjournment Motion on behalf of Northern fishermen, arguing that illegal fishing is destroying Northern marine resources and threatening fishing livelihoods. He urged the Fisheries Minister, Hon. Chandrasegar, to press Cabinet for immediate action and said ITAK MPs would support him by applying external pressure. He referred to the 2017 Private Member’s Bill brought by Hon. M.A. Sumanthiran that became law, and warned that failure to resolve the issue had damaged the position of the previous Minister, Hon. Douglas Devananda. Adjournment Motion: Prevention of Unlawful Fishing Activities in the North Read →
- 22 February 2025 The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB AI summary Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar supported the National People’s Power Government’s Budget, presenting it as a mandate for national recovery after the economic and political crisis and the 2022 bankruptcy declaration. He said the Government had received significant support across communities and regions, including in the North and East, and emphasized his responsibility as Fisheries Minister and Jaffna District Coordinating Committee Chairman to improve conditions for fisherfolk. He highlighted poverty reduction as a central objective, noting high poverty levels in the Northern Province, especially Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi, and said Budget allocations would prioritize village-level infrastructure such as schools, roads, tanks, and related development. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 22 February 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam urged the Government, in the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, not to delay the adoption of a new Constitution, arguing that economic recovery depends on it. He stated that his side is willing to help establish a special fund for the North and East with partner countries, but warned against postponing constitutional reform and seeking another election instead. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 22 February 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam argued that the 2025 Budget shows no significant policy shift and questioned whether the Government can finance and implement its stated capital projects, noting past underutilization of capital expenditure and a projected Rs. 2.2 trillion deficit. He said allocations for the Northern and Eastern Provinces, including roads, bridges, the Vattuvagal bridge and the Jaffna Library, are inadequate or risk remaining only on paper, despite electoral support from those areas. He also raised unresolved issues concerning the disappeared, political prisoners, mass graves, and the need for a new Constitution and power-sharing political settlement, stating that development alone cannot address Tamil political concerns. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 21 February 2025 The Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi JJB AI summary The member stated that the NPP Government has officially recognized hill-country Tamils as “Malaiyaga Tamil People” and is taking steps to address long-standing estate-sector hardships. She highlighted Budget allocations of Rs. 4,267 million for estate housing and infrastructure, Rs. 2,450 million for vocational training for hill-country youth, and Rs. 866 million for smart classrooms in Malaiyagam schools. She argued that these measures reflect a national-level commitment to improving education, employment, and living conditions in estate communities. Appropriation Bill 2025: Second Reading (Fourth Allotted Day) Read →
- 21 February 2025 The Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake supported the Government’s first Budget, arguing that it prioritizes the public interest and future generations, particularly through what he described as a historic Rs. 619 billion allocation for education. He highlighted specific provisions to develop the Jaffna Public Library and other regional libraries, linking them to the need to repair past damage to education and reconciliation after the 1981 burning of the Jaffna Library and the subsequent conflict. He criticized past administrations over alleged misuse of youth and public funds, and endorsed the proposed “Sri Lankan Day” allocation of Rs. 300 million as a measure to promote national unity, tourism, and economic recovery. Appropriation Bill 2025: Second Reading (Fourth Allotted Day) Read →
- 21 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna objected to a pre-lunch statement which he said targeted the Tamil community by alleging that Prabhakaran stopped the Mavil Aru anicut in 2006. He indicated that he wished to clarify that matter in the context of the earlier remarks. Appropriation Bill 2025: Second Reading (Fourth Allotted Day) Read →
- 21 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna stated that he represents the people of the North and questioned why the Prevention of Terrorism Act has not been repealed if, as another Member said, LTTE leader Prabhakaran was eliminated in 2009. His intervention sought clarification on the continued justification for the PTA in that context. Appropriation Bill 2025: Second Reading (Fourth Allotted Day) Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Priyantha Wijerathna, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Priyantha Wijerathna supported the 2025 Appropriation Bill, stating that it was prepared under the State Finance Management Act, No. 44 of 2024, within limits on primary expenditure, and framed around a national productive economy. He rejected Opposition claims that the Eastern Province had been neglected, citing Budget provisions for Eastern development and allocations for youth agro-entrepreneurship, dairy production, and human-elephant conflict mitigation. He argued that the Government aims to reduce inter-provincial economic disparities and protect citizens’ economic rights following the Aragalaya. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Muneer Mulaffer - Deputy Minister of National Integration JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister supported the Appropriation Bill, arguing that the Budget is fair and inclusive despite the country’s economic difficulties, and contrasted it with past governments’ alleged misuse of state resources. He said the President had reduced personal expenditure and that the Government was seeking national development rather than benefits for officeholders. Responding to claims that the Eastern Province had been neglected, he cited allocations including funds for Kalmunai sports facilities, Eastern University, hospitals in Trincomalee and Ampara, a Trincomalee dockyard, Eastern infrastructure, Swami Vipulananda Institute, and a cardiology unit in Ampara. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Mohamed Sali Naleem AI summary Hon. Mohamed Sali Naleem argued that the 2025 Budget has not adequately addressed the needs of the Eastern Province, despite its war-affected status and contribution to national income. He requested direct budgetary allocations for Eastern development rather than reliance on anticipated Indian funding, citing needs including rural roads, Eravur hospital congestion, the unfinished Aligar National School indoor sports facility, widening of the Eravur–Pottuvil main road, and completion or protection measures related to Oluvil Port and coastal erosion. He also called for funds to protect South Eastern University from flooding caused by waters passing through the Kaliyodai Bridge. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan ITAK AI summary Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan said the Budget contains welcome progressive measures, including welfare expansion, education and health allocations, plantation wage increases, anti-intoxicant goals, the Clean Sri Lanka programme, and funding for the Jaffna Library and Vattuvagal Bridge. He argued, however, that the Eastern Province, particularly Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Digamadulla, has received no specific equitable development allocation despite war damage and recent flood losses. He called for Budgetary attention to stalled bridge projects and lagoon/tank crossings in Batticaloa, including links such as Naripul Estate–Pankudaveli, Thikilivattai–Sandiveli, Kinnaadi–Murukandy and Mandur–Kurumanveli, to address flooding, transport and economic development needs. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment JJB AI summary Minister Dammika Patabendi defended the 2025 Budget as aligned with the NPP’s policy of economic democracy, productive growth, and fair distribution, rejecting Opposition claims that it is either insufficiently socialist or neoliberal. He argued that Opposition references to past open-economy policies and comparisons with Adam Smith, Ronnie de Mel, and Deng Xiaoping were historically inaccurate and outdated. He said the Budget sets out its macroeconomic principles and goes beyond fiscal measures by allocating funds for national reconciliation, religious and cultural activities, Northern and Eastern development, the Jaffna Library, and improved living standards for the Malaiyagam Tamil community. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Susantha Dodawatta, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Susantha Dodawatta supported the NPP’s inaugural Budget, describing proposals such as health-sector digitalization as long-term measures to modernize public services. He highlighted the proposed “Sri Lanka Day” as a national cultural festival intended to promote unity among communities, attract diaspora tourism, and support local arts, crafts, and traditional industries. He also backed an additional Rs. 100 million for skills development of convicted prisoners, arguing that rehabilitation and employability are needed to reduce recidivism. Referring to a recent triple homicide raised by the Opposition, he said the deceased had previously named alleged threats in YouTube interviews and urged Members to view them. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA AI summary Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan welcomed increased Budget allocations for the North, particularly the proposed reconstruction of the historically significant Vattuvaakal Bridge, but urged that funds be distributed across all five northern districts rather than concentrated in Jaffna. He questioned the lack of clarity on the President’s statement that India would develop the East and asked the Government to specify what projects India would undertake and whether reduced allocations reflected electoral considerations in Batticaloa. He called for urgent attention to the Vanni districts’ basic needs, including roads, schools and hospitals, and requested that the President, Ministers, Governor and officials ensure proper allocation and implementation of development funds. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK AI summary Dr. Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam argued that the 2025 Budget’s aim of “economic democracy” cannot be achieved in the North and East without resolving political marginalization, land issues and long-standing regional inequities linked to the war and poor governance. He highlighted the Northern Province’s low GDP contribution and called for timely fertilizer subsidies, fair market access, disaster compensation, restoration of tanks, release of lands held by the military and State agencies, and allocation of pasture for livestock. He also criticized delays faced by diaspora investors in obtaining land and approvals, urging a genuine one-stop mechanism to facilitate investment in the region. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna referred to the LTTE bombing of the Sri Dalada Maligawa and apologized on behalf of the people of the Northern Province. He stated that the LTTE cadres involved came from the Northern Province, amid an interruption. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →