2026-02-06 / Debate: Extension of Emergency Regulations under Public Security Ordinance 2026-02-06
## Summary
Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam announced his party's opposition to the Emergency extension, stating he would call a Division and vote against it, citing the historical use of emergency powers to suppress political dissent and protests in the North and East — including through court orders sought against demonstrations at Thayiddi — and the continued application of the Prevention of Terrorism Act against political opposition despite the Government's election promise to repeal it.
Challenging the Government's justification that the Emergency is necessary for post-cyclone relief and reconstruction, Ponnambalam cited the uncompensated damage from the 2020 "Burevi" cyclone in Neduntivu (Rs. 20 million) and the unspent 2021 Northern Province allocation as evidence that the Government had failed to deliver relief without emergency powers. He also presented detailed statistics on Indian trawler poaching — including that of 2,871 Indian fishermen arrested since 2013, 2,779 were released without action — arguing that neither past nor present governments had adequately protected Northern fishermen or compensated their losses.
Ponnambalam additionally raised the case of Mr. Rajkumar Rajeevkanth, who is reportedly facing harassment after posting on social media asking that Tamil cultural sensitivities be considered regarding the venue chosen for the cremation of a Buddhist monk in Trincomalee, and appealed to the Government to cease any action against him.
Hon. Presiding Member, in response to Hon. Deputy Minister Muneer Mulaffer’s references — including to Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen — I think my colleague Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan was agitated because he did not want that burden falling on his head as well. He already has enough issues.
We oppose this Resolution to extend the Emergency. I will call for a Division at the end of this debate and vote against it. Tamil history needs no fresh record here to explain why.
Even today, at Thayiddi where a vihara has been illegally erected, people — including public, elected representatives and civil society — protest monthly on Poya days. With emergency in force, authorities go to court arguing that in such a period protests should not be allowed and seek restraining orders. Courts have rejected that, but how the administration uses these laws is well known in the North and East.
Likewise, this Government came to power promising to repeal the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act, yet today uses that very law in the North and East to crush political dissent whenever people oppose them. We strongly oppose this and will vote against the extension.
You say today’s extension is needed to ensure quick relief and reconstruction after the “Ditva” cyclone, and to prevent disruptions or delays by protests. This Government has been in office for over a year. Since we came to this Parliament, we have repeatedly raised earlier cyclones that caused major damage in the North, especially in Jaffna. For example, in December 2020 the “Burevi” cyclone hit Neduntivu causing Rs. 20 million in damages. This was raised in the House many times — by me and by Hon. Sumanthiran — but not one cent has been compensated to date. In 2021, Rs. 58 million was allocated for the Northern Province, but none for Neduntivu. These are things you should have done without any emergency.
On Indian trawlers poaching in our waters and destroying our fishermen’s gear, we raise this almost every month. For 2025 you seized only 16 trawlers; this year so far, only six — while thousands enter our waters daily and destroy our fishermen’s livelihoods. Since 2013, about 500 trawlers were seized; 319 were released without action. Today, 115 trawlers remain in State custody, but only 30 cases have been filed. Of 2,871 Indian fishermen arrested, 2,779 were released without any action; only 92 remain linked to those 30 cases. I blame both past and present Governments. If you cannot stop these vessels, at least compensate the affected fishermen. You have done neither.
Finally, on 1 February in Trincomalee, the cremation of the Nayaka Thera of Gokanna Rajamaha Viharaya took place at the Municipal Council’s McHeyzer Ground — a ground used almost entirely by Tamil children. In Tamil culture, cremation sites are sacred and people avoid stepping on such places; they go barefoot at cremations and avoid treading on cremation or burial grounds thereafter. It is the same sentiment with LTTE graves that were turned into camps where people now walk over graves. After this cremation, Mr. Rajkumar Rajeevkanth posted on Facebook asking people to understand Tamil sentiments. He did not disrespect the venerated monk’s cremation — he only asked that public sites chosen not harm others’ sentiments. He is now being hounded. I appeal to the Government to stop that.