The Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem.

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, in 1990, due to war and terrorism in the North and East, many people were displaced. In 2006, certain lands were gazetted as State/Forest lands. Since then, district-level committees identified extents to be released. In Ampara, the people have faced land issues for about 35 years.

¶ 03 Previously, the Wildlife and Defence authorities recognized longstanding public grievances and agreed, after consultations, to release certain traditional, cultivated lands in areas such as Ampara, Uhana, Dehiattakandiya, Lahugala, Paanama, Akkaraipattu, Sammanthurai, Thirukkovil and Pottuvil.

¶ 04 Specifically in Pottuvil DS Division, the Government Agent identified for release: - Kachchakodi: 23.25 ha - Amavattuvan: 26.6 ha - Amavattuvan Paanchal Aru: 69.30 ha - Thangapillai Kanathai: 0.3 ha - Thangapillai Kanathai North: 4.38 ha - Palladiyan Road: 14.50 ha - Palladiyan Road North: 8.99 ha - Tharampalavai: 275 ha - Rottaik Kulam: 327 ha - Selva Veliy: 7.68 ha - Semmani Kulam: 8.49 ha - Selva Veliy (another block): 22.2 ha - Thukkuvellavai: 32 ha - Kumma Veliy: 3.36 ha

¶ 05 In Lahugala DS Division, 117 acres of paddy fields at Palliyadivattai have been mistakenly brought under the Forest Department; these are fertile paddy lands and should be reviewed and released. Issues persist in areas like Vattamadu, Karankavattai, etc.

¶ 06 On 23 February 2023, at a meeting in Parliament with Ministers, MPs and officials, Lahugala and Pottuvil DS officers participated. It was decided to distribute 502 acres in the Grangowai area to the people of Lahugala and Pottuvil. This has not been implemented to date.

¶ 07 Regarding the Heda Oya project to solve irrigation and drinking water issues in Pottuvil: in 2018, Rs. 150 million was allocated; in 2019, Rs. 50 million; in 2020, Rs. 25 million; yet the project stalled at inception. Since it spans Monaragala and Ampara, two Government Agents were to be part of a committee under our District Coordinating Committee Chair, Hon. Deputy Minister Wasantha Piyathissa. We request swift implementation; it could enable two cultivation seasons over about 14,000 acres in Pottuvil and provide drinking water to over 10,000 families in Pottuvil, Paanama, Lahugala and Komari.

¶ 08 Finally, I thank Health Minister Hon. Nalintha Jayamissa for providing an ambulance to our base hospital, and Industry Minister Hon. Sunil Handunnetti and Deputy Minister Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa for organizing an industry fair and tourist stalls in Arugam Bay, benefitting locals. I also thank our District Secretary Chinthaka Abeywickrama, Additional GA, Pottuvil Divisional Secretary Nazeel, Assistant DS M. Ramakutti, Accountant S.M. Haroon, and Administrative Officer Subhair for effective implementation.