The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, could I have 15 minutes by taking time from another Member?

¶ 02 At the outset, let me state in Tamil: the 2025 Budget has completely abandoned the Eastern Province. I know no one will even put on their headphones; that is fine.

¶ 03 This Budget has orphaned the Eastern Province. Do not be angry; I will read what the Hon. President said about the East in his Budget Speech—it runs to six lines on page 35:

¶ 04 “The Eastern Province is one of the provinces with vast potential for economic development. Therefore, focusing mainly on education, health, agriculture, fisheries, tourism and community empowerment, we propose to implement a broad development program in the Eastern Province with Indian multi-sector grant assistance, in order to participate in infrastructure and livelihood development.”

¶ 05 That is all.

¶ 06 This Government has outsourced the development of the Eastern Province to India. It is embarrassing to hear. As MPs from the East, we are planning to meet the Indian High Commissioner tomorrow or the day after to present our province’s issues. Do not take this lightly. In the recent floods, the East was severely affected. Due to the breach at the Gal Oya Dam—Senanayake Samudraya—downstream areas were inundated. Our paddy lands were submerged. The main reason is the lack of proper development downstream of Gal Oya.

¶ 07 If there is no downstream development plan for the Gal Oya reservoir, our future Maha/Yala harvests will decline—note that down. Hon. Uthumalebbe will bear witness; your State Minister Wasantha Piyathissa will bear witness; Hon. Athambawa will bear witness; Hon. Kodeeswaran will bear witness. A stone wall of the dam failed, water overflowed, and even potable water supply became a major issue. People did not have drinking water. This is a serious problem. There is nothing in this Budget—prepared by Mahinda Siriwardana—about it. We consider this a Budget to be thrown away.

¶ 08 Hon. Presiding Member, forgive me for saying it bluntly. We come from those areas. Yet there is nothing for them here. Some say do not look at it by province. What nonsense is that? In a National Budget, to fund the development of an entire province from India—do you feel no shame? Muslims, Tamils and Sinhalese in the East gave you so many votes. Whom are we to complain to? You have just put some token line under Expenditure. There is nothing about Gal Oya downstream development. Why? What wrong did we do? In the recent floods, even an “A” class bridge broke.

¶ 09 A bridge on an A-route near South Eastern University collapsed due to the floods. I think it is on the A4 road. It has been repaired temporarily; two lorries pass and it will break again. Is there any provision in this Budget to properly repair it? No. Why? I do not understand. The major issue around Gal Oya is downstream management; we need a secondary dam constructed.

¶ 10 Another point: we need a smart irrigation system to face climate change. In the North and East, rains come in drought time and drought in rainy time—this is climate change. Is there a smart plan to face this? The sowing dates for Yala and Maha must be changed—have agricultural experts proposed a program? Is there funding to obtain that expertise? No. Nothing. Deep disappointment with this Budget. We cannot tell our Eastern people to go beg India. That is completely wrong.

¶ 11 On tourism promotion: the East has three premier destinations earning foreign exchange—Nilaveli (Trincomalee), Arugam Bay/Pottuvil (Ampara) and Pasikudah (Batticaloa). What is in here for infrastructure and transport? Nothing. In the 1970s, when we were schoolchildren, backpackers would get off at the small Pasikudah railway halt and walk to the beach. What railway development is proposed for the East? Nothing.

¶ 12 Hon. Presiding Member, I do not know if you travel to the East by train. I go first class. Even in first class between Batticaloa–Trincomalee there are no A/C sleeper cabins, yet they charge Rs. 4,800. The ladder to the upper berth is a tiny, unsafe 3-inch by 5-inch contraption—go and see. Which foreigner will travel like that? I have raised even the toilets before when the Hon. Prime Minister was here—at least the long-distance trains do not have proper water-sealed toilets.

¶ 13 You have two more minutes.

¶ 14 No, Sir, I am getting two extra minutes.

¶ 15 It is after adding those extra two minutes also.

¶ 16 Is it? Oh, my God!

¶ 17 There is no development. What have we got under public transport and railways for us?

¶ 18 Another matter: do you go to the East via the Mahawa Junction? There is a rail curve there; no mountains—yet every train stops for half an hour while the engine detaches and pulls from the other side to negotiate the curve. Straightening that curve would cost a small amount—still not done. Tourists then sit half an hour at Mahawa without fans working; in this heat children cry; everyone suffers. Why is no one looking at such issues?

¶ 19 Finally, about integrating with metro bus companies: a good idea. But why can we not issue a single through-ticket from Colombo Fort to Pottuvil? You need not lay 65 km of new rail from Batticaloa; just allow a combined ticket so that a passenger alighting at Batticaloa can board a reserved bus seat to Arugam Bay. Why cannot we run bus services timed to train arrivals? These simple solutions are missing. I have more to say, but time is over.

¶ 20 I conclude by stating, with full responsibility, my disappointment at the irresponsible manner in which funds have been allocated in this Budget for the development of the Eastern Province. Thank you.