Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan

## Summary Speaking to a debate under Section 2(3) of the Special Commodity Levy Act No. 48 of 2007, Hon. Adaikkalanathan highlighted failures in consumer price regulation, particularly in the Vanni region districts of Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, and Mannar, where essential goods including rice, medicine, and daily necessities are sold above stipulated prices, and alleged that some Public Health Inspectors accept bribes to overlook violations. He called on the Government to rigorously enforce fair pricing through the Consumer Affairs Authority and to address the exploitation of paddy farmers by private buyers, drawing a parallel with the Government's stated commitment to combating corruption and narcotics. On transport, he requested that the Mannar railway departure time be shifted from 1:00 a.m. to approximately 10:00 p.m. to make the service practically usable. He also raised a constitutional objection to the Government's administration of the Northern Province through Governor-led provincial ministries in the absence of elected Provincial Councils, characterising this as an unlawful "shadow" administration and urging the President to hold Provincial Council elections.

The speaker questions the necessity of extending emergency powers to deliver disaster relief and reconstruction, arguing that such measures could be handled through normal government functions. He raises concerns about the historical trauma his community has experienced under emergency regulations and the Prevention of Terrorism Act, noting that fear of emergency powers persists among his constituents. He further calls on the government to equip police with adequate tools and legal frameworks to investigate cybercrime, particularly online harassment and defamation targeting women, citing current police limitations in pursuing offenders located abroad. Finally, he urges authorities to provide a transition period of at least six months before banning machine-assisted shore-seine fishing in named coastal communities in Mannar, warning that an immediate prohibition would cause severe economic hardship to labourers and investors in the industry.

The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan directed a question to the Deputy Minister regarding a court order pertaining to the Mannar–Puttalam road, specifically requesting that the Deputy Minister publicly identify the first respondent who agreed to the court's decision. The speaker insisted that this information be disclosed for public awareness.

The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan rose on a Point of Order in Parliament on 6 February 2026. No further content from the speech is available to summarize beyond this procedural invocation.