Sri Lanka
Dr RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) (12:39): Over the last few months my former homeland of Sri Lanka has experienced an unprecedented economic and social crisis, plunging the country into dire uncertainty, with shortages of food, fuel and medicine, exorbitant inflation and deep poverty. Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets demanding political change. At the heart of these troubles has been an abject failure of political leadership and rampant corruption and nepotism. This is not the first time the island nation has experienced deep troubles. A devastating 30-year civil war led to the deaths of thousands, the persecution of minorities and hundreds of thousands of us Tamils having to leave our homes. Divisive political leadership was again responsible. We Tamils found out later that the mobs who came hunting after us had been given access to our personal information through the electoral rolls, and that is how they knew where we lived and whose houses to burn down. For years we have watched the promise of this nation being squandered by self-interest, power and corruption, but the time has come for change. The people are speaking, marching and agitating for change like we have not seen before, and a new leadership must emerge that restores public confidence, trust, integrity and stability.
Many of us have despaired about what comes next for Sri Lanka, but I urge people to remain hopeful. History has shown us that change will come when people stand up, especially our young people. So get organised, get mobilised and get elected. My solidarity is with all those people who are going through hardship in Sri Lanka, the diaspora community supporting family and friends back home and the activists, who have my deep admiration and respect. You are the hope for the future.