The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 There is widespread public opposition arising from unresolved boundary issues and the need to redefine divisional boundaries. Although decisions have been taken and certain announcements made, matters have been taken up repeatedly both at the Ampara District Secretariat level and by the National Delimitation Commission. Without completing these processes, how can boundaries be drawn, and on what basis? Disputes persist, and this has become a serious issue between two communities which must be resolved through dialogue.

¶ 02 We have repeatedly engaged in consensual efforts. During the previous government, when Hon. Vajira Abeywardana was the Minister in charge, we held many discussions to find a solution, but they did not bear fruit. Merely exerting pressure by speaking forcefully in Parliament will not resolve this. Tamil and Muslim communities and their representatives must sit together with Ministry officials to find a permanent solution. This is not a matter that can be concluded through aggressive rhetoric in Parliament; it must be resolved amicably through discussion.

¶ 03 There is also an aspiration from the Tamil side for a form of administration in Kalmunai where a Divisional Secretariat manages areas not contiguous by land. However, how can a secretariat administer a non-contiguous territory? Today, in the Koralaipattu West Division of Batticaloa, certain GN divisions belonging to Koralaipattu Central—such as Jayantiya and Ritithenna—have already been linked to Koralaipattu Central in a non-contiguous manner as per prior delimitation decisions. Contrary to what is stated in the Cabinet paper, a decision has already been taken and a committee may have recommended it, yet the related Gazette notification has been deliberately withheld. Thus, the Koralaipattu Central Divisional Secretariat’s boundary issue—covering 11 GN divisions—remains unresolved. I urge the Government to grant a solution without delay.

¶ 04 This is a grave injustice. On 13 July 2000, pursuant to Cabinet decisions and the Panampalana Committee’s recommendations, 18 GN divisions were allocated to Koralaipattu South and 11 GN divisions to Koralaipattu Central. Under those recommendations, Koralaipattu South was to administer about 686 square kilometres, while about 240 square kilometres were to belong to Koralaipattu Central. Today, Koralaipattu Central can administer only 7.78 square kilometres. The Batticaloa administration is mishandling state land governance in a way that is highly problematic. The previously decided recommendations should be gazetted and implemented administratively, resolving such boundary issues.

¶ 05 Due to these delays, some GN divisions even have two Grama Niladhari officers appointed, creating serious confusion. Hon. Minister, please consider the chaos resulting from the non-implementation of the Delimitation Commission’s recommendations. Especially note that roughly 240 square kilometres that should belong to Koralaipattu Central have been lost, with only 7.78 square kilometres now under its administration. This is a serious injustice imposed on the local population by the Batticaloa District administration. We have repeatedly raised this in Parliament, but no suitable action has been taken.

¶ 06 I must also raise another matter. In Ottamavadi, the cultural hall building put up within the Multipurpose Co-operative Society premises remains a mere wire-frame structure, incomplete. The current President, during the last presidential election campaign when he visited as a candidate, commented on this. He criticized the state of these structures. There is a responsibility to act, and I request the Ministry to ensure completion of that hall.

¶ 07 Further, the Mowgideen Abdul Kader Playground in Ottamavadi, under the Koralaipattu West Pradeshiya Sabha, is frequently flooded and has been declared unsuitable for use. The grandstand is derelict and misused. I request funds to rehabilitate the building and to address recurrent flooding so the ground can be developed. Since it belongs to the Pradeshiya Sabha, I wish to record this under this Ministry’s Votes.

¶ 08 Likewise, the Ottamavadi (Koralaipattu West) Divisional Secretariat office building, funded during the previous administration, remains incomplete, preventing the rapid completion of several sections. The Ministry should ensure its completion.

¶ 09 Regarding vital records, for a long time birth registrations were processed at Ottamavadi Divisional Secretariat via the Valachchenai Hospital. Recently, they were shifted to Koralaipattu (another division). People perceive this as an act driven by ethnic bias. In truth, as Valachchenai Hospital lies within the Koralaipattu Central divisional boundary, authority for such registrations should rest with Koralaipattu Central. Despite compelling reasons, politicians of the last administration acted with ethnic intent to shift these services to Koralaipattu South, causing distress among the local people. These are long-standing grievances that need redress.

¶ 10 The Government must also ensure the resettlement, with facilities, of those who fled from Kallischai village during the war. Though many requests were made through the Divisional Secretariat, they have not properly reached the attention of the central government. With Indian assistance, several resettlement housing projects have been established in the Eastern Province, and more are planned. Criticism arose that the Hon. President, as Finance Minister, stated in the Budget that funds for Eastern Province development would come from the Indian Government, without allocating government funds. Whether financed by India or by our Government, resettlement housing must be provided through the relevant Divisional Secretariat to the people of Kallischai. Hon. S. Nazeer, MP for the area, notes that a DCC decision to this effect was taken in 2011.

¶ 11 In the Vakarai DS Division, long-term residents of areas like Karamunai and Navaladi reportedly cannot obtain land permits from the relevant Divisional Secretariat and feel deliberately sidelined. There are allegations that Muslim residents in those areas do not receive fair treatment from the Vakarai DS, particularly at state land Kachcheries. I request the Hon. Minister to ensure fairness when allocating state lands to long-standing residents.

¶ 12 I also draw attention to an issue affecting the Ampara District. Land long cultivated since around 1969—land that was cleared and developed—is now being transferred to the Ampara DS Division from Samanthurai DS Division by force. Nineteen individuals from the Karangawa West Farmers’ Organization, who received this land under Jayabhoomi deeds around 1990, are affected. Even court jurisdiction has been altered. I table copies of letters, including one titled “Paddy Lands Located near the Army Camp in Ampara–Nawagampura GN Division,” and related documents for the Hon. Minister’s attention. One such letter dated 27.09.2019 states:

¶ 13 “03. Accordingly, in terms of the instructions in letter No. AMP/ADMN/ERNGW/19/63 dated 2019.09.15 from the Ampara District Secretary, permission is hereby granted to the farmers named in the annexed document—members of your Farmers’ Organization pertaining to PP/AM/1441 Pimura sheet under the Ampara DS Division—to carry out cultivation activities in the relevant plots of land.”

¶ 14 Because of this letter, these farmers are now unable to access their fields. I regret this situation and request a durable solution to the dispute between the Ampara and Samanthurai DS Divisions. Thank you.