Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam

Dr. Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam spoke during a debate on Special Commodity Levy regulations covering imported potatoes, onions, and 62 other food items. He acknowledged that import levies could support domestic production and generate revenue, but argued that taxes alone are insufficient to achieve self-sufficiency, calling for complementary government support measures such as fertilizer subsidies. He raised concerns that paddy procurement payments and crop insurance from the last Maha season remain outstanding for Northern Province farmers, and that wildlife damage compensation is unresolved. He urged the President to direct India's pledged US$63.5 million grant toward developing the Kankesanthurai (KKS) Port, arguing this would reduce logistics costs for goods transported from Colombo to the North and contribute to the region's economic development.

The speech is too brief to provide a substantive summary, as it consists solely of the member formally putting forward a question to the Speaker. No specific policy, proposal, or argument is contained in the statement.

Dr. Sathiyalingam opposed extending Emergency powers, arguing that existing laws are sufficient for post-disaster recovery and that integrating Prevention of Terrorism Act provisions into broader security legislation—without a clear definition of "terrorism"—risks criminalising dissent and violating fundamental rights and international norms. He raised two constituency-specific concerns: the Kivul Oya water project in Vavuniya, which he argued displaces local communities without adequate consultation (referencing similar grievances dating to the 1983 Mahaweli resettlements), calling for a halt pending proper consultation; and the failure of the Paddy Marketing Board to procure paddy at the legislated Minimum Support Price of Rs. 120 per kg, with farmers reportedly receiving only Rs. 80, resulting in losses of approximately Rs. 30,000 per acre. He demanded immediate commencement of procurement to benefit the remaining 30% of the unharvested crop.

## Summary Dr. Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam expressed support for the Microfinance Bill while highlighting its particular significance for the North and East, where post-war displacement left populations vulnerable to exploitative lending practices by approximately 40 microfinance companies, resulting in debt cycles, abuse, and suicides, particularly among women-headed households. He raised concerns that the Bill's two-category framework — covering moneylenders and microfinance institutions — would inadvertently capture community-level, non-profit lending structures that were formed locally to support survival during and after the conflict, and argued that subjecting these to the same regulatory regime as commercial institutions would undermine their purpose. He proposed the creation of a distinct third regulatory category for community financial institutions, and called for meaningful women's representation on the proposed Authority, given that approximately 90% of those the legislation protects are women. The speaker submitted a document of suggested amendments to the House and concluded with remarks referencing ongoing unresolved issues facing war-affected communities in the North and East.

Hon. (Dr.) Sathiyalingam raised a supplementary question regarding the rehabilitation of Sri Lanka's traditional cascade irrigation system, which comprises networks of small and medium tanks. He noted that 222 such tanks are abandoned in Vavuniya District alone, and argued that restoring them would provide multiple benefits including preventing deforestation, improving groundwater levels, supporting freshwater fisheries, and benefiting local villages. He asked whether adequate funds would be allocated in the coming fiscal year specifically to rehabilitate these village tanks in the Vanni region.

Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam raised a supplementary question regarding the Paddy Marketing Board's (PMB) per-farmer purchase ceiling. He argued that since the Agriculture Department provides fertilizer allocations for up to five acres per farmer, capable of yielding approximately 10,000 kg of paddy, the current government purchase limit of 2,500 kg per farmer is disproportionately low and restricts farmers' benefits. He called on the Government to increase the PMB's per-farmer paddy purchasing ceiling accordingly.