"My Leader is God Prabha": MP Archuna Ramanathan Ignites Parliament with Fiery Speech on Land Rights and Corruption

BRAMPTON — Independent MP Dr. Archuna Ramanathan delivered a blistering address in Parliament today, sparking uproar with controversial declarations regarding his leadership allegiance and aggressive challenges to the government’s land settlement policies.

Switching fluently between Tamil and Sinhala, the MP leveled serious accusations of administrative corruption against Parliament officials and issued a stark warning to the ruling party regarding their political future.

"Settlements for Settlements"

Ramanathan opened his speech by addressing the contentious issue of state-sponsored settlements. While clarifying he was not opposed to Sinhalese people settling in the Northern Province, he demanded strict reciprocity.

"If Sinhalese settlements are being constructed in the North, then give us land in Muthurajawela," Ramanathan challenged, referring to the wetland area in the South. He accused the government of a double standard, noting that while the Mahaweli Development Authority clears forests for development projects benefiting the majority, Tamil communities in the North are often barred from using land under strict forest conservation laws.

"When you clear forests for the Mahaweli scheme, there is no problem. But when we ask for land in Mullaitivu or Kilinochchi, you talk about protecting the environment," he argued.

Controversy Over Leadership Claims

The speech took a volatile turn when Ramanathan switched to Sinhala to address the government benches directly. In a move likely to draw severe backlash, he explicitly identified the late LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran as his leader.

"My leader is God Prabha. I say this without fear," he declared. He taunted the ruling party members—referencing the JVP/NPP heritage—challenging them to name their own leader. "If you can, stand up and say your leader is Rohana Wijeweera. Your leader is dead," he remarked, drawing a sharp contrast between his stance and theirs.

Corruption Allegations and "Athal" Politics

Ramanathan did not spare the Parliament’s administration, launching a tirade against the Speaker and officials regarding alleged waste. He claimed that over 2 million rupees had been misappropriated for fuel expenses, asking the chamber, "Are you not ashamed?"

He further detailed discrimination within the parliamentary complex itself, complaining that while ordinary MPs often find the canteen empty after 3:00 PM, personal assistants of high-ranking officials are served separate, dedicated courses.

Turning his sights on the opposition, he mocked MP Namal Rajapaksa’s recent parliamentary attendance as a stunt to provide a "small thrill" (using the colloquial athal) to the diaspora, dismissing it as political theater that would not fool the voting public.

A Warning on the Economy

Ramanathan concluded with a grim prediction for the current administration. Criticizing recent fuel price adjustments—specifically a 5-rupee hike followed by a meager 2-rupee reduction—he accused the government of insulting the public's intelligence.

"People are talented; people think," he said, warning the government that they have only three years left to rectify their course before the public "throws them onto the street."

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Related Video: Watch the full speech here

     In solidarity,

     Wimal Navaratnam

     Human Rights Advocate | ABC Tamil Oli (ECOSOC)

      Email: tamilolicanada@gmail.com