Shanakiyan urges Govt. to prioritise North, East development

Saturday, 11 October 2025 00:55 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

  • Questions reliance on Chinese loans while rejecting Indian development grants
  • Says TNA can acquire funding, grants for development if Govt. allowed it
TNA MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian Shanakiyan Rasamanickam yesterday urged the Government to focus on developing the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Speaking in Parliament the MP warned the Government about its growing dependence on Chinese loans, while rejecting Indian grants, raising questions about priorities and transparency in economic decision-making.

“We welcome the development of the Rathnapura District and the Kandy expressway, but we would like to urge the Government to develop the North and East as well,” he said.

He criticised the National People’s Power (NPP) administration for following the same pattern of alleged cronyism seen under past regimes in dealings with Chinese firms.

Referring to the recently discussed $ 500 million loan from China to develop the Central Expressway, Rasamanickam noted that the interest is said to be 2.5%, which could go up to 3.5%, and warned that such borrowing raises both financial and political concerns.

“In the past, there were allegations of fraud in projects linked to Chinese companies. This President has even said it, but now there are questions about the terms of this loan as well,” he said. 

Rasamanickam contrasted this with India’s $ 63 million grant for the Kankesanthurai (KKS) harbour, saying the Government’s rejection of similar assistance was deeply troubling. “The Government rejected a development grant, there is no repayment and no interest.”

China is not welcome in the North and East because they do not have the interest of the Tamil people in their agenda,” he said, recalling Beijing’s opposition at the UN Human Rights Council to resolutions supporting Tamil rights. “That is why we say the Chinese are trouble in this country.”

The TNA MP called on the Government to prioritise developing key infrastructure in the North and East, including the Trincomalee harbour, Batticaloa airport, Jaffna’s Palaly airport, and the KKS harbour, noting that better connectivity would unlock regional potential.

“If these airports and harbours are developed, we can generate funds and attract grants to develop the North and East, but only if the Government of the day allows it,” he said.

COMMENTS