Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader MP Mano Ganesan has raised concerns over what he described as selective enforcement of the law, following the arrest and release on bail of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam.

Kariyawasam was arrested, produced in court, and later bailed over remarks concerning Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya, which police allege amounted to a death threat. 

In a post on ‘X’, Mano Ganesan, however, argued that such remarks fall within the ambit of free speech and should be tested in court, noting that the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court verdict will determine the facts.

The TPA Leader questioned whether police had applied the same standards to other government politicians who, in the same jurisdiction, had publicly declared they would “massacre hundreds of thousands” to remain in power. 

He asked whether the Sri Lanka Police had taken note of those statements, suggesting that selective enforcement undermines the principle of equality before the law.

“The playing field must be level for everyone,” Ganesan stressed, adding that freedom of speech cannot be curtailed for some while ignored for others. (Newswire)

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader and Member of Parliament Mano Ganesan has reassured India that Sri Lanka’s ongoing constitutional reform process will not dilute the devolution framework established under the 13th Amendment, while pressing for constitutional recognition of the Non‑Territorial Tamil Community Council (NTTC) to safeguard the democratic aspirations of Indian‑Origin Tamils.

Speaking at a meeting with visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Mishri at India House in Colombo yesterday (05), Ganesan emphasized that India’s concerns are understandable given its historic role in the 1987 Indo‑Lanka Accord, which paved the way for Provincial Councils. 

Issuing a statement, he noted that India has both the moral standing and legitimate interest to caution against any constitutional process that undermines devolution.

Ganesan pointed out that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has pledged to resume the constitutional process from where it was suspended, and that the Constitutional Steering Committee’s Interim Report did not propose weakening the 13th Amendment. Instead, he said, it recommended strengthening Provincial Councils and deepening devolution.

“I served alongside President Dissanayake on the Steering Committee. It would be politically and morally inconsistent to now weaken or abolish Provincial Councils,” Ganesan stated.

He further stressed that constitutional reform must not only safeguard devolution but also recognize the aspirations of the Indian‑Origin Tamil community through the NTTC proposal.

“We will engage constructively in the constitutional process, but we will not compromise on protecting devolution, strengthening power‑sharing, and securing constitutional recognition for the NTTC,” he said.

The meeting was attended by TPA Deputy Leader Radhakrishnan MP, CWC General Secretary Jeevan Thondaman MP, and Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, alongside representatives of Sri Lanka’s Indian‑Origin Tamil community. (Newswire)

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Leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), MP Mano Ganesan, has requested the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (COPF) to inquire into the reallocation of funds set aside for the conduct of Provincial Council Elections.

In a letter addressed to COPF Chairman Harsha de Silva, dated June 01, 2026, Ganesan cited remarks reportedly made by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary Tilvin Silva, who stated that funds earmarked for Provincial Council Elections had been utilized by the Government for disaster‑rebuilding and related purposes.

Ganesan stressed that, to his knowledge, Parliament had not approved any transfer or reallocation of such funds to other expenditure heads. 

He warned that if the statement attributed to Tilvin Silva is accurate, it may indicate unauthorized use of public finance without parliamentary sanction.

The TPA leader urged the COPF to examine the facts and determine whether any transfer, reallocation, or expenditure of election funds had occurred in violation of parliamentary approval and financial regulations. 

He requested the committee to take appropriate action within its mandate. (Newswire)

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Several arrests have been made in connection with three separate assault incidents reported in estates in different parts of Sri Lanka, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament today (07).

Addressing Parliament, Minister Wijepala said on April 21, in the Neelagamam Division in Pelmadulla, 11 security officials had allegedly assaulted villagers during a dispute over an illegal construction. 

He said the security officers have been arrested and were produced in court, adding that the Police have taken necessary actions in this regard.   

Last night (06), at the Mokawatte Estate, the estate manager allegedly slapped his meals caretaker. He was arrested at 09.00 am today and is scheduled to be produced in court, he further revealed. 

Minister Wijepala went on to say that early this morning at 12.30 am at Delta Estate, Udupussellawa, Maskeliya, Nuwara Eliya, the deputy manager was arrested for allegedly assaulting a worker. 

The minister said that the arrested deputy estate manager too will be produced in court today.

“There is no attempt to brush away any such incidents. The law will be implemented equally to all,” Minister Wijepala stressed.

He made the remarks in response to questions raised by Opposition MPs Mano Ganesan and Jeevan Thondaman, who highlighted the continuous assaults on upcountry Tamils in various parts of Sri Lanka. 

Responding to Minister Wijepala’s briefing, MP Ganesan urged the minister and the government to convene a discussion to resolve the long‑standing issue. (Newswire)

NeelaGamam estate
Management of Kahawatte Plantations, Deployed Helmeted, Black-Clad Hooligans Allegedly Carring Out a merciless Brutal Attack on the marginalized Workers and breaking down the Makeshift dwelling of homeless Workers in RatnaPura district. #Mano_Ganesan… pic.twitter.com/5SteoRuBOd

— Mano Ganesan (@ManoGanesan) May 1, 2026

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Leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), MP Mano Ganesan, together with several party members, met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (April 2).

The discussion focused extensively on the challenges faced by the Malaiyagam community, particularly in education, housing, and land. 

The delegation urged urgent measures to address these issues, with the President giving special attention to the concerns raised.

The shortage of teachers in hill‑country schools was also highlighted, with emphasis placed on the immediate recruitment of qualified Tamil‑medium teachers to fill the gap.

TPA MPs P. Digambaram and V. Radhakrishnan, along with other party members, joined the meeting. (Newswire)

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Tamil Progressive Alliance Leader MP Mano Ganesan has cautioned that while the President claims to be dismantling monopoly cartels in gas, fuel, and medicine procurement, new cartels are already emerging within the government.

MP Ganesan said, during the party leaders’ meeting yesterday, he praised President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for efforts to break up entrenched monopolies but warned that well‑connected corporate allies are now operating under different guises.

“These aren’t old players. Replace one cartel with another, and nothing changes,” he said in a post on ‘X’. (Newswire)

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader, MP Mano Ganesan has urged the Government of India to simplify the process of granting Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status to recent Indian-origin Malaiyaha Tamils living in Sri Lanka who wish to obtain it.

Ganesan also called for restructuring the Ceylon Estate Workers Education Trust (CEWET), which operates under the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, by expanding its mandate to meet the current social and developmental needs of the Indian-Origin Tamil (IOT) Malaiyaha community.

He made these appeals during a meeting with Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha at India House in Colombo, accompanied by TPA Deputy Leader V. Radhakrishnan MP and Politburo Member Barath Arulsamy. Indian High Commission Political Counsellor Ram Babu also joined the discussions.

Taking to ‘X’, Ganesan said the TPA has already submitted detailed proposals to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and both current and former Indian High Commissioners to Sri Lanka. “We now anticipate favourable responses from the Government of India,” he stated.

Highlighting the demographic context, Ganesan noted that approximately 1.5 million Tamils of Indian origin live in Sri Lanka, with nearly one million in plantation regions. However, only about 100,000 remain engaged in plantation labour today. “This demonstrates that the community has progressed through self-initiative into diverse professional, business, and social sectors, evolving into a recognized national minority community,” he said.

He emphasized that while many Sri Lankans trace their origins to India, the more recent Indian-origin population is identified as Malaiyaha Tamils. “Their Indian origin identity neither can nor needs to be concealed. India carries a significant moral responsibility toward Indian-origin Hill Country Tamils, which forms the basis of our engagement,” Ganesan added.

On the matter of OCI status, Ganesan urged India to grant it on a voluntary basis through simplified eligibility criteria. He noted that Prime Minister Modi had responded positively to the proposal during discussions in Colombo. He argued that optional OCI status would serve as a protective and empowering mechanism for the community, which continues to face structural disadvantages compared to Indian-origin communities in countries such as South Africa, Mauritius, Fiji, Singapore, and Malaysia.

He further observed that the 1964 Sirima–Shastri Repatriation Pact weakened the socio-economic position of the community in Sri Lanka. “Granting OCI status today would acknowledge our people’s history while expanding opportunities in education, employment, connectivity, and livelihoods, thereby strengthening the community,” he said.

Turning to education, Ganesan proposed restructuring CEWET into a new framework titled the Indian Origin Tamils – Community Development Trust (IOT-CDT). He stressed that the Malaiyaha Tamil community has moved beyond plantation-based livelihoods and requires broader institutional support.

The TPA suggested several initiatives, including:

• Increasing the value and number of scholarships.
• Establishing a Tamil-medium teacher training college for Mathematics, Science, Technology, and English.
• Creating a nursing training institute dedicated to Malaiyaha Tamil women.
• Setting up two international English-medium schools in Colombo and Nuwara Eliya, modelled on India’s Navodaya school system.
• Developing a Highlands University Campus in Nuwara Eliya District in partnership with a recognized Indian university, with the long-term goal of evolving into a full national university under Sri Lankan law. (Newswire)

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader MP Mano Ganesan met French Ambassador to Sri Lanka Rémi Lambert at his residence, accompanied by a TPA delegation, where they raised concerns that Malaiyaha Sri Lankans, particularly plantation residents, continue to face exclusion from equal treatment under the Government’s Rebuilding Sri Lanka housing initiative.

In a post on ‘X’, MP Mano Ganesan stated that the French Ambassador was informed that the Malaiyaha Sri Lankans were the worst affected by the Cyclone Ditwah disaster.

“We apprised the Ambassador,  with facts: Malaiyaha SriLankans, especially plantation residents, were the worst affected by the Ditwah disaster, yet are systematically excluded from equal treatment under the GoSL’s Rebuilding Sri Lanka housing initiative. Despite official commitments, the promised LKR 5 million grant & land allocation to every displaced family remain denied to the plantation community. This is not oversight—it is institutional discrimination,” MP Mano Ganesan alleged.

The TPA Leader further said that repeated requests for a meeting between the TPA and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to discuss these unresolved, community-specific injustices have been deliberately ignored.

“We urged France to actively use its good offices to press the GoSL to end this discriminatory practice and ensure equal rights, equal resources, and equal dignity for Malaiyaha Sri Lankans,” he added.

MP Mano Ganesan said that he further appealed that France, as a leading European Union member, must insist that land and housing rights for the Malaiyaha community be made a condition for Sri Lanka’s continued access to GSP+benefits. (Newswire)

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Opposition MP Mano Ganesan has questioned where the most marginalized plantation community fits into the relief matrix of the government. 

In a post on ‘X’, MP Ganesan said that he acknowledges the relief allowances announced by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on 5 December on the final day of the Budget session. 

“I chose not to join the opposition walkout, opting instead to hear the President out in good faith. But as the Tamil Progressive Alliance Leader, I still don’t see where the most marginalized plantation community fits into the relief matrix,” he said. 

MP Ganesan pointed out that Sri Lanka’s international partners and development stakeholders, who consistently back the country, need to place the country’s most vulnerable populations at the top of the priority stack.

He made the comments following visits to the Kandy District, Alugolla Division, and Nawalapitiya, which were among the worst hit by landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah.

Following his visit, MP Mano Ganesan pointed out that the state’s operational footprint hasn’t reached these areas, and plantation-worker families remain literally buried under the landslide soil. (Newswire)

Wherever I walk, the roads collapse behind me across the hilly terrain of #Kandy district, #Alugolla div, #Nawalapitiya. The state’s operational footprint hasn’t reached these areas, & plantation-worker families remain literally buried under the landslide soil.

The districts… pic.twitter.com/1uVx2anBKo

— Mano Ganesan (@ManoGanesan) December 11, 2025

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader MP Mano Ganesan says his party will not participate in the joint opposition rally that has been organized for November 21.

Speaking to reporters, MP Ganesan said the TPA will not participate in the rally due to certain reasons, which he did not specify.

He further said that he is unsure of the decision of the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). 

Refuting remarks that the decision was due to issues with SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa, MP Mano Ganesan said there was no issue with any politicians.

Jovially holding MP Dayasiri Jayasekara by the shoulder, MP Ganesan said they are all good friends, adding, “Anura is also my good friend”. (Newswire)

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader MP Mano Ganesan says the government’s recent programme to issue house and land deeds to plantation beneficiaries in Bandarawela was merely the distribution of ‘Letters of Intention’. 

“The JVP government held a grand event at Bandarawela, with much fanfare, claimed to have issued house & land deeds to 2,000+ plantation beneficiaries under the Indian Housing Grant Project. But in reality, no new houses, no land identified, no foundations laid. Only “Letters of Intention”, he said.

He further said that in an act of deception, the hill country Tamil (Malaiyaha) politicos of the government distributed 234 ownership deeds of houses built during the previous government to the inhabitants of those houses, and yet they loudly made a hollow claim of giving 2,288 legal deeds

MP Mano Ganesan alleged that JVP Tamil politicos in the government have taken the innocent plantation residents, the whole country, and the diplomatic community and development partners in Sri Lanka for a ride.  

“And what’s more, they have made the last laugh at their own leader, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake,” he added. 

Opposition MP Mano Ganesan made the remarks in a statement shared on ‘X’. (Newswire)

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The Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) and the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) have raised concerns over the government’s reported move to abolish the New Villages Development Authority for Plantation Region (NEVIDA).

TPA Leader, MP Mano Ganesan, has raised concerns over the government’s reported move to abolish the NEVIDA, commonly referred to as the Malaiyaha Authority, and convert it into a division under a Ministry

In a letter addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, MP Mano Ganesan pointed out that the NEVIDA was established at the initiative of his party with the active participation of the Malaiyaha civil society, under Act #32 of 2018 during the Good Governance government.

Stating that it is understood that the government intends to hand over the activities of this Authority under the purview of a Ministry, MP Ganesan urged the President to reconsider this course of action.

MP Ganesan further pointed out that such an effort cannot be sustained by a single Ministry and that the multifaceted nature of these challenges demands a coordinating body that draws together the work of several Ministries and ensures continuity beyond political transitions.

“I must therefore, with respect but with equal firmness, urge your government to desist from this attempt. The preservation of the New Villages Development Authority for Plantation Region (NEVIDA) is not merely an administrative matter; it is a question of justice, equity, and the fulfilment of a historic responsibility toward a long-marginalized community under the globally accepted affirmative policy. I trust you will give this matter your most serious consideration and act in the best interests of the Malaiyaha Tamil community and the nation,” he added. 

Also raising concerns over the matter, General Secretary of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC), Jeevan Thondaman, said the move to repeal the New Village Development Authority is completely unacceptable.

Issuing a statement, Thondaman said it has served as a vital mechanism to provide services to the plantation community.

“Similarly, by utilizing the Plantation Human Development Trust, the Ceylon Workers’ Congress used its political strength to hold plantation companies accountable and ensure that essential services and development projects reached the people. When it comes to the Plantation Human Development Trust, it functions merely as a tool of the plantation companies, it is not a people’s mechanism. That is why the Good Governance Government brought in the Plantation Human Development Trust: to directly and independently deliver services to the plantation people,” he said. 

He pointed out that even for building a house, plantation workers must seek permission from estate managers, but through the New Village Development Authority, they have been able to secure practical solutions to such pressing issues.

“The Trust has also made it possible to deal directly with matters such as land ownership and housing approvals. Like the Urban Development Authority or the Road Development Authority, the village Development Authority was intended to function independently. Therefore, the government’s decision to close it down on the grounds that it is not functioning effectively is nothing but absurd,” he added. 

• The full letter of MP Mano Ganesan to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake;

Subject: Attempt to abolish the New Villages Development Authority for Plantation Region (NEVIDA) established under Act #32 of 2018 and convert it into a division under a Ministry

I write to you with utmost urgency and respect regarding the government’s reported move to abolish the New Villages Development Authority for Plantation Region (NEVIDA) —commonly referred to by our community as the Malaiyaha Authority—which was established at initiative of our party with the active participation of Malaiyaha civil society, under Act #32 of 2018 during the Good Governance government.

It is understood that the intention of your government is to hand over the activities of this Authority under the purview of a Ministry.

Mr. President, I earnestly urge you to reconsider this course of action.

As you are aware, the Malaiyaha Tamil community, residing in the plantation regions of Nuwara Eliya, Colombo (Avissawella), Kandy, Matale, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kalutara, Badulla, Monaragala, Galle, Matara, and Kurunegala districts has for over two centuries endured systemic social, economic, and cultural marginalization.

This prolonged disadvantage is rooted in historical exclusion, whereby the community was denied land ownership, housing, access to services of the public administration, national education and healthcare, as well as citizenship and voting rights.

It was only gradually—schools were incorporated into the national system as late as 1976, and last segment of this community obtained full citizenship only in 2003—that the community began to emerge from this long history of exclusion.

Consequently, our people entered the national development process significantly late, which explains why they remain among the most disadvantaged groups in the country today.

Recognizing this reality, acknowledging the need for targeted and sustained interventions, between 2015 and 2019, during the Good Governance government, we, the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) worked to advance long-overdue rights—land and housing rights and entitlements, rights to education and healthcare, improved livelihood with fair incomes and wages, Empowerment of Malaiyaha youth and women and poverty alleviation. Crucially, these initiatives aimed to integrate the Malaiyaha Tamil community into the national mainstream.

Such an effort cannot be sustained by a single Ministry. The multifaceted nature of these challenges demands a coordinating body that draws together the work of several Ministries and ensures continuity beyond political transitions.

It was precisely to meet this need—and to institutionalize an affirmative policy framework—we of the TPA worked tirelessly, that Parliament, through Act #32 of 2018, established the New Villages Development Authority for Plantation Region (NEVIDA).

To now dissolve this Authority and reduce it to a division under a Ministry would be a grave historical error. Unlike statutory bodies created through legislation, Ministries and their internal sections and divisions are subject to administrative changes and may be dissolved or restructured at the discretion of the Executive.

The Authority, by contrast, derives its legitimacy and permanence from Parliament under relevant act, in this case Act No. 32 of 2018, and therefore guarantees continuity of service to the community irrespective of changes in government.

Mr. President, as you mark one year in office this month, allow me first to extend my congratulations. You have made significant commitments to the Malaiyaha Tamil people. However, it must be noted with regret that in this past year, the community has yet to witness tangible progress in the fulfillment of those promises. More concerning still, the present move threatens to dismantle one of the few institutional gains already secured.

I must therefore, with respect but with equal firmness, urge your government to desist from this attempt. The preservation of the New Villages Development Authority for Plantation Region (NEVIDA) is not merely an administrative matter; it is a question of justice, equity, and the fulfillment of a historic responsibility toward a long-marginalized community under the globally accepted affirmative policy.

I trust you will give this matter your most serious consideration and act in the best interests of the Malaiyaha Tamil community and the nation.

• The full statement of Jeevan Thondaman:

“The New village Development Authority was introduced by the Good Governance Government, and we welcomed it at that time. It has served as a vital mechanism to provide services to the plantation community.

Similarly, by utilizing the Plantation Human Development Trust, the Ceylon Workers’ Congress used its political strength to hold plantation companies accountable and ensure that essential services and development projects reached the people.

However, after the Ceylon Workers’ Congress moved to the Opposition, plantation companies have only strengthened their authority and dominance.

When it comes to the Plantation Human Development Trust, it functions merely as a tool of the plantation companies, it is not a people’s mechanism. That is why the Good Governance Government brought in the Plantation Human Development Trust: to directly and independently deliver services to the plantation people.

To illustrate, even for building a house, plantation workers must seek permission from estate managers. But through the New Village Development Authority, they have been able to secure practical solutions to such pressing issues.

Moreover, through our trade union strength, we have negotiated with plantation companies and enabled housing for the people. But if the present government has achieved even 10 percent of this, it remains highly questionable!

The Trust has also made it possible to deal directly with matters such as landownership and housing approvals. Like the Urban Development Authority or the Road Development Authority, the village Development Authority was intended to function independently.

Therefore, the government’s decision to close it down on the grounds that it is not functioning effectively is nothing but absurd.

Furthermore, it is clear that the President himself does not understand the true power and role of the village Development Authority. This lack of awareness has led to attempts to reduce it into just a department under a ministry. But it must be emphasized that the Trust is not like any other institution.

Deputy Ministers and up country ruling party representatives should be ashamed of themselves. The plantation people voted for them with immense trust and sent them to Parliament. Yet, when it comes to solving issues or giving answers, they prove to be incompetent, spineless, and indifferent.

They criticized us heavily on the issue of plantation wages. But today, these ruling party representatives of the up country are unable to secure even a single rupee increase for the people.

At present, there is not a single Cabinet Minister representing the hill country within the ruling party. In such a context, the move to abolish the Plantation Human Development Trust is unacceptable and entirely wrong.

Eliminating institutions under the guise of cost-cutting and saving is not justifiable. For example, we cannot simply abolish the Ceylon Electricity Board. 

Among the youth today, there is rising frustration, and their concerns are legitimate. Instead of addressing them, the government is exploiting these frustrations as a weapon, destabilizing the nation further.

Finally, I would like to state Deputy Minister Sundaralingam Pradeep truly has any concern or sense of duty toward the plantation community, then he must publicly release a statement opposing the move to abolish the New Villages Development Authority.” (Newswire)

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader MP Mano Ganesan says President Anura Kumara Dissanayake must blame himself for the current power struggle at Local Councils. 

In a post on ‘X’, MP Ganesan pointed out that the existing Local Government Act is faulty, which was confirmed during the previous elections. 

He further said that President Dissanayake says parties that obtained the highest numbers should be allowed to form councils even if they are short of 50%, but the current law has no such provision.  

MP Ganesan said the current law was brought in good faith to provide representation to women and pave the way for ward-based members, but the current system has failed. 

“We knew it after experimenting with it last time. Hence, all parties, including the JVP, decided to amend the law to bring the total number of LG members from 8500 to nearly 5000 and amend certain other clauses too. All parties unanimously agreed to this in the last Electoral Reform Select Committee. It was none other than Anura Kumara Dissanayake who was the JVP member in the committee,” MP Ganesan said. 

The TPA Leader further said that under the circumstances, the NPP government could have amended the Act with their 159 majority, together with the opposition’s support.

“But they were in an unbelievable hurry to conduct elections as soon as possible for political reasons. Hence, President Dissanayake should blame himself for the clumsy, awkward situation today,” MP Ganesan added. (Newswire)

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Leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), MP Mano Ganesan, has called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to address the root causes that caused the 30-year civil war in Sri Lanka. 

MP Mano Ganesan made the appeal in a post on ‘X’, on the eve of the Victory Day and Mullivaaikkal Commemorations.

He further said that the Sri Lankan national journey should reach the patriotic destination where Sri Lankans should be able to commemorate all those who died in the war.

The MP pointed out that, if need be, they should also be able to celebrate victory over all kinds of terrorism, state and non-state, and those that occurred in the South and North of the country.

MP Mano Ganesan further said that to reach this destination, the state of Sri Lanka should address the root causes that caused the 30-year war, with an inclusive approach.

“The causes derive since 1948 from the Defrachisement Act, Sinhala-only Act, Dishonourable dismissals of the Bandaranaike–Chelvanayakam and the Dudley Senanayake-Chelvanayagam Acts, Chandrika Kumaratunga package of the year 2000, underimplementation of the 13th Amendment, Non-recognition of the diverse nature of the Sri Lankan society with several ethnicities, languages and religions, Non-implementations of the post-war Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission recommendations, and the ignorance towards Mahinda Rajapaksa-Banki Moon joint statement, etc,” he said. 

“If not, our journey will be nothing but back to square one,” the TPA Leader further warned. (Newswire)

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader, MP Mano Ganesan, has called on Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath to table in Parliament the recent agreements signed with India.

Addressing Parliament today, MP Ganesan questioned the Foreign Minister on the agreements that were signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Sri Lanka. 

“Please table all the agreements the government signed with India in the parliament so that the whole country knows about them. You said they are not agreements but Memoranda of Understanding. Fine, table them. By doing it this way, you can take the whole country by confidence,” he said.

Responding to the minister’s claims that some parties in the opposition are accusing him of betraying the country by making agreements with India, MP Mano Ganesan said the opposition never made such claims. 

“It is your party that accused us of betraying the country when we tried to do the same agreements with India in the past,” the opposition MP pointed out. 

Responding to MP Ganesan, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said following discussions with the relevant ministries, he would issue a response regarding tabling the MoUs in Parliament. (Newswire)

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A delegation of politicians representing the Hill Country Tamils of Sri Lanka has requested social and educational assistance from India during a discussion with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Sri Lanka. 

During PM Modi’s official state visit to Sri Lanka from 04-06 April, he engaged in a discussion with a delegation consisting of Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) and Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) members, led by TPA Leader MP Mano Ganesan.

Commenting on the meeting, MP Mano Ganesan said PM Modi was informed that they will not burden him with their political demands, but will submit their political proposals when the government commences the new constitutional process.

He further said that they requested Indian logistical support to establish an exclusive Teacher Training College that could produce teachers in the subjects of Science, Maths, English, and IT.

MP Ganesan said a request was also made for the establishment of a Nurses Training Institute for the community girls and the establishment of a Campus affiliated with a prestigious Indian university. 

“On the national economic aspect, we firmly stated that Sri Lanka’s forward march is necessarily tied up with the world’s 5th largest Indian economy. We welcomed the economic connectivities represented by the MoUs signed between Sri Lanka and India,” MP Ganesan said, in a statement. (Newswire)

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader MP Mano Ganesan says the US Government may demand the Government of Sri Lanka to increase imports from the USA to reduce the huge trade imbalance.

Taking to ‘X’, MP Mano Ganesan revealed he was informed in this regard during a recent meeting with US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung.

MP Mano Ganesan further said during the meeting he conveyed the message that ‘USA First’ and ‘Sri Lanka First’ policies should meet at a positive point for both countries.

“USA accounts for 23% of Sri Lanka’s annual exports, valued at $16B, but we import $370M worth of goods from the USA. Our host informed us that the Trump Administration may expect Sri Lanka to increase imports from the US in order to reduce trade imbalance,” he said, 

The opposition MP further said that they were also informed that US cotton fabric raw material for the Sri Lankan apparel industry is one such possible import that could be increased.

“The economic rebuilding of Sri Lanka, the reconciliation process, and the aspirations of marginalized Malaiyaha Tamil Community were the other subjects of our discussion,” he added.

MP Mano Ganesan also stated that the US Embassy dismissed media reports of a scheduled visit to the US by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath. 

Reports of the visit arose after US President Donald Trump announced in February to impose reciprocal tariffs on several countries.

Soon after, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath informed Parliament that a Sri Lankan delegation would visit the US in April to discuss how Sri Lanka could avoid the reciprocal tariffs. (Newswire)

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader MP Mano Ganesan has proposed the establishment of special courts to hear corruption cases on a daily basis.

Welcoming President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s efforts at anti-corruption, MP Ganesan said the Police, Bribery Commission, Attorney General and Judiciary are institutions that the people place their trust in, in a republican democracy. 

“It’s good news that President #AnuraKumara_Dissanayake @anuradisanayake has stated that the Bribery Commission will reopen files of national importance and file cases at the end of this month and in February. 

“The backlog should be cleared by granting more resources to the Bribery Commission (including strengthening its legal powers), the Attorney General’s Department and the CID within the Police Department should also be granted more resources to fulfil the anti-corruption drive,” he pointed out.

In a message on ‘X’, MP Mano Ganesan said the President should also consider establishing special courts for corruption-related cases so that the cases will be heard on a daily basis for conclusions. (Newswire)

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader Mano Ganesan has called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to name those who have received payoffs from Chinese Corporations previously.

In a statement on ‘X’, MP Mano Ganesan said there was chatter among Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) members that President Dissanayake, during his visit to China this week, will inform Chinese Corporations that they will not have to pay off Sri Lankan middlemen in the future. 

Welcoming this move, which he said tackles corruption, the MP further said; “But a question arises here, doesn’t such a message identify Chinese corporations as entities that make such payoffs to middlemen?”

MP Mano Ganesan stressed it was important for President Dissanayake to name those middlemen, who received such payoffs in the past, without further delay.

He pointed out that it will go a long way towards ending corruption in Sri Lanka as promised by the National People’s Power (NPP) during their campaign. (Newswire)

#JVP comrades are talking informally that President @anuradisanayake intends to deliver a specific message to #Beijing during his state visit to friendly #China, about to commence tomorrow.

The message is that no Chinese sources will have to payoff any Sri Lankan middlemen… pic.twitter.com/4DMwltIvGT

— Mano Ganesan (@ManoGanesan) January 13, 2025

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader MP Mano Ganesan has demanded the inclusion of Rs. 2000 as minimum wage for plantation workers in the government’s upcoming budget proposals. 

Addressing the Parliament yesterday, MP Mano Ganesan stated he anticipates a Rs.2000 minimum daily wage for plantation workers, pointing out that they are the most marginalized segment in Sri Lanka.

“Unless and until plantation workers are taken care of, they cannot be considered equal citizens,” he stressed. 

MP Mano Ganesan pointed out that together with him, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake co-sponsored Motions on Plantation workers in the last Parliament. 

Stating that the government may grant relief in cess levy tax on tea exports to Plantation companies, he urged the government to instruct Regional Plantation Companies to pay a minimum wage of Rs. 2000. 

MP Mano Ganesan further called upon the President of the JVP’s Plantation trade union, the All Ceylon Plantation Workers Union Kitnan, who is an NPP MP in the incumbent Parliament, to join hands with Tamil Progressive Alliance on this issue. (Newswire)

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