Topic
Justice & Human Rights
2,079 speeches · 258 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. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney at Law, M.P. JJB | 162 |
| 2 | Hon. Sajith Premadasa, M.P. SJB | 96 |
| 3 | Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, M.P. Independent Group 17 - Jaffna | 84 |
| 4 | Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, M.P. SJB | 79 |
| 5 | Hon. Ajith P. Perera, M.P. SJB | 71 |
| 6 | Hon. Ananda Wijepala, M.P. JJB | 67 |
| 7 | Hon. Mujibur Rahman, M.P. SJB | 60 |
| 8 | Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, M.P. JJB | 52 |
| 9 | Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, M.P. ITAK | 48 |
| 10 | Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa, M.P. JJB | 47 |
Speeches
2,079 on this topic- 22 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna supported the Adjournment Motion on protecting the fundamental rights of Tamil-speaking people and argued that it had been mischaracterized as an ethnic division between Sinhalese and Tamils. He criticized the Government and the NPP for claiming to reject racism while, in his view, acting with ethnic bias toward the North, and questioned their electoral and administrative record there. He also tabled a report alleging financial irregularities at Tellippalai Base Hospital and demanded equal enforcement of anti-corruption action, asking whether separate standards were being applied in the North and South. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB AI summary Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekera said the Government’s human rights approach is linked to restoring the rule of law, democratic governance, anti-corruption and social justice, while maintaining national security as a basis for stability. He stated that security forces are being educated on human rights and that an independent investigation is proceeding into the 7 August incident at a camp in Muthiyankadu, with three soldiers arrested. He reported that over 75,000 of 85,486 acres of State and private land held by the military in the North and East since 2009 have been released, with further releases planned, while some land will remain for strategic security needs. He also listed several road and land releases in Jaffna, Pulmoddai, Batticaloa and Trincomalee, including sites raised by Hon. Shanakiyan Rasamanickam. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. K. Ilankumar JJB AI summary K. Ilankumar argued that human rights violations in Sri Lanka have historically been linked to efforts to gain or retain political power, citing the 1981 burning of the Jaffna Public Library, the 1982 Referendum, the 1983 pogrom, and later incidents affecting Tamils. He said failures and misuse of State machinery contributed to violence and insecurity, including misattribution of the Vavunativu police killings and failures preceding the Easter attacks. He stated that the current Government is working to strengthen democratic rights, allow institutions to function independently, and issue land titles in the North in Tamil, while alleging that some political actors are spreading fear and attempting to destabilize the Government. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Sellaththamby Thilaganathan JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Sellaththamby Thilaganathan addressed the Adjournment Motion on Tamil human rights issues, describing the death of Kapilan in Muthiyankaddu as a tragic isolated incident rather than one involving ethnic or religious incitement. He said the nearby Army camp had been removed at local request, with land and fencing to be handed over for civilian and temple use, and criticised the subsequent hartal as economically harmful and politically motivated. He argued that people in Mullaitivu prioritise livelihood restoration over separatism or federalism, and cited Government interventions to secure fertilizer subsidies for 1,200 acres and release water under the Muthiyankaddu scheme. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy JJB AI summary Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy supported the Adjournment Motion on human rights in the Northern, Eastern and Central Provinces, stating that the Government is committed to protecting rights across all communities and addressing unresolved issues arising from conflict and estate sector marginalization. He referred to personal wartime experiences and to Rohana Wijeweera’s writings to argue for unity, peace, democracy and development, while criticizing recent hartal activity as not reflecting public sentiment in the North and East. He said the Government would act within its term to release occupied lands, address long-term detainees described as political prisoners, and resolve issues relating to the disappeared. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB AI summary Arun Hemachandra welcomed the Adjournment Motion as an opportunity for the Government to outline its approach to reconciliation, citing the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ report as evidence of international expectations for reforms on truth, justice, rule of law, and non-discrimination. He said the Government was moving to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act, with a Bill expected by early September, while introducing modern laws to address crime without oppressive measures. He also highlighted land-related measures, including a decision in Trincomalee to release over 55 hectares previously demarcated for Forest Conservation but used by local farmers, and called for more Tamil-speaking Archaeology Department officers. He urged the Opposition to identify shortcomings and assist reforms rather than, in his view, attempt to destabilize the Government. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Elayathamby Srinath ITAK AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Elayathamby Srinath called for the Government to address longstanding human rights, political, linguistic and cultural concerns of Tamils in the North, East and Hill Country, and asked it to state its framework, timeline and position on a federal solution. He linked economic recovery and stability to resolving the national question, while welcoming anti-corruption and non-violence measures. He raised concerns over excessive troop presence, weak Tamil language implementation, religious and ethnic disparities, political prisoners and the disappeared, and urged concrete proposals to rebuild trust among Tamil communities. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Aboobucker Athambawa JJB AI summary Hon. Aboobucker Athambawa argued that the Government is committed to protecting human rights by uniting all communities and rejected political approaches based on ethnicity or separatism, including framing issues solely around Sinhala- and Tamil-speaking peoples. He said Tamil and Muslim grievances, including justice for Muslims expelled from the North, should be resolved through discussion with the Government rather than divisive politics. He also cited ongoing development measures in Ampara, including the guaranteed paddy price, road improvements, housing for poor families, and Rs. 900 million for the Gal Oya scheme. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen SJB AI summary Rishad Bathiudeen urged the Government to appoint qualified people from all ethnic and religious communities to committees and task forces, without political or sectarian bias. He said national progress depends on peace, justice, functioning courts, human rights protection, and ethnic and religious harmony, which he argued are necessary to attract tourism and investment. He called for action against human rights violations regardless of the offender’s background. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen SJB AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen urged the Government to complete stalled projects regardless of their association with the previous administration, citing a Qatar Government offer of Rs. 600 million for a building project that he said had not progressed due to official inaction. He asked Ministers to investigate officials who refuse available grants and warned that such conduct harms the Government and the country. He also called for fair action on disappearances and crimes by security personnel, stating that the law should apply equally to all institutions and political actors. He further raised concerns about Muslim representation in public administration and policymaking, including the absence of Muslim District Secretaries and Muslim academics on the Education Reforms Committee. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen SJB AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen argued that Sri Lanka belongs to all communities and criticized the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kachchi hartal slogan of a “Tamil homeland” and the demand to remove the military from the North and East, saying such actions should have been preceded by wider consultation among affected communities. He condemned past abuses against Muslims and Tamils, including massacres, Chemmani, forced COVID-19 cremations, arrests under the PTA, and obstruction of Muslim resettlement, while calling for accountability for all perpetrators. He urged the Government and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to protect the trust placed in them by Muslim voters and to address specific grievances, including the closure of the Mahara Mosque, the Supreme Court-ordered closure of the Mannar-Puttalam road, and halted schools and cultural projects. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law - Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala argued that human rights require equal application of the law and stronger independence among the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, criticizing past abuses of power including executive overreach, pressure on MPs, and attacks on judicial independence. He said the National People’s Power Government is acting on its mandate by ending preferential treatment for the powerful and pursuing reforms such as repealing the Presidents’ Entitlements Act, No. 4 of 1986, and abolishing parliamentary pensions. He framed these measures as part of broader efforts to strengthen institutional independence and access to justice. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam argued that the Government had misrepresented the OHCHR report, citing its criticisms on the PTA, transitional justice, poverty, corruption, militarization, land issues, custodial deaths, and stalled accountability cases. He raised specific allegations regarding NMRA-related corruption and deaths linked to a reintroduced product, intimidation of Tamil journalists, demolition of churches in Palaly–Myliddy, and continued military occupation and land acquisition in the North and East. He also criticized the Government’s unfulfilled promises on plantation wages, Forest Conservation land releases in Batticaloa, and broader reforms, while rejecting claims that demands for Tamil political rights are racist. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan raised a point of order challenging objections to federalism and stating that Tamil Arasu Katchi’s policy supports federal power-sharing, which he described as a recognized model comparable to systems in Switzerland, the United States and India. He urged the Government to explain federalism to the public, reciprocate respect in debate, and not subsume Tamil rights under development arguments. He also questioned opposition to an international inquiry into wartime allegations, arguing that if no crimes or injustices were committed there should be willingness to establish the truth. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House of Parliament JJB AI summary Bimal Rathnayake responded to the Adjournment Motion on human rights by citing the 12 August UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report as evidence of a shift toward a more inclusive national identity and of early government action on economic and social rights. He highlighted the inherited economic crisis, including food insecurity and child malnutrition, and pointed to measures such as tax threshold increases, VAT removals on some foods, higher health and education allocations, increased Aswesuma funding, and meeting the IMF social safety net target. He also cited the Proceeds of Crime Act, the National Anti-Corruption Plan, and recent corruption convictions and investigations as signs of action against corruption, arguing that human rights concerns must be considered alongside economic recovery and accountability efforts. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem criticized the handling of the former President’s arrest after a CID visit, arguing that while equality before the law must apply, procedural courtesy should have been extended to a former Head of State through a B report, summons, and magistrate’s decision rather than detention before production. He questioned how a YouTuber appeared to predict the arrest in advance, suggesting possible improper disclosure and warning against public “exhibitionism” in justice processes. He also referred to the upcoming UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report debate in Geneva and welcomed the Government’s proposed independent Public Prosecutor’s Office, citing concerns about prosecutorial discretion, investigative capacity, forensic expertise, Tamil-speaking officers, and impunity. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said the Government is committed to protecting all citizens equally and to building a culture of respect for human rights, beyond formal laws and treaties. She argued that Sri Lanka inherited institutions and norms shaped by corruption, impunity, abuse of power and divisive narratives, which must be reformed or dismantled. She said the Government has sought to avoid hateful narratives, promote unity and accountability, restore respect for the rule of law, and correct shortcomings in matters such as mass graves and detentions where necessary. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA AI summary Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan said the imposition of wind power projects in Mannar against local opposition, mass graves in Mannar and Mullaitivu, repression of activists, and disappearances of journalists reflected continuing human rights concerns affecting Tamils. He called for international investigations into wartime violations and urged the Government to demonstrate goodwill by repealing the PTA, pursuing constitutional reforms, and releasing long-detained political prisoners. He said action on these issues was needed to address ethnic grievances and build trust among Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim communities. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj JJB AI summary Kitnan Selvaraj supported the Adjournment Motion, framing it as part of addressing Sri Lanka’s long-standing ethnic question and its effects on harmony, human rights, and development. He emphasized the rights of Hill Country Tamils, citing the NPP’s Hatton Declaration, proposals to recognize “Malaiyaha Tamils” as Sri Lankan citizens, provide legal land rights, and improve education through targeted reforms and funding. He also urged that future measures include support and recognition for former LTTE combatants, particularly disabled and destitute individuals. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary The Minister clarified that no journalist had been arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, contrary to allegations. He stated that intelligence information had been referred to the Police, who only recorded a statement in relation to a national security matter, and placed this clarification on record. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →