NPP MP proposes parliamentary inquiry into Black July 1983
COLOMBO – National People’s Power (NPP) Jaffna District MP Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy is to move a proposal in Parliament seeking the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee to examine the Black July 1983 riots, assess their impact and recommend measures to promote national harmony and provide relief to those affected.
The proposal, scheduled to be moved when Parliament meets on Tuesday (3) under the chairmanship of Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne, calls for a committee of no more than 12 members to submit its report within six months of its first sitting.
It states that the July 1983 violence set Sri Lanka back economically, socially and culturally for decades, claiming thousands of lives, causing extensive property damage and inflicting a major economic setback. It further argues that the mistrust, fear and suspicion created among communities caused damage even more profound than the physical destruction.
The proposal notes that the loss of life, property damage and psychological and social trauma resulting from the violence have yet to be formally assessed. It calls for a firm legal and social reconciliation mechanism to prevent a recurrence of racist and divisive incidents and to safeguard relations among the country’s ethnic communities.
The proposal also stresses the need to establish the underlying causes of the violence and identify those who led the destructive activities, while ensuring that those affected receive fair relief or dignified reparations.
Under the proposal, the Speaker would nominate the chairperson and members of the committee in accordance with Standing Order 101 of Parliament.
The committee would be empowered to summon any person to give evidence, require the production of documents and records, receive written and oral evidence, and obtain assistance from specialists and experts in relevant fields.
It would also be authorized to submit interim reports and continue meeting during parliamentary adjournments or prorogations.
–ENCL
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