The Hon. Mohamed Sali Naleem

¶ 01 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, first I thank the Almighty for the opportunity to speak in the Second Reading debate on the 2025 Budget and to participate in this discussion.

¶ 03 At a time when ethnic, regional, and religious divisions were rampant in this country, the entire Sri Lankan people saw President Anura Kumara Dissanayake as a unifier. Through this Budget, many benefits have reached regions across the country, except that the Eastern Province appears neglected. We, too, are Sri Lankans; we too belong to districts where Sri Lankans live. On that basis, we believe the Eastern Province has been sidelined in this Budget.

¶ 04 The Hon. President has allocated Rs. 5,000 million to improve rural roads and bridges in the Northern Province, where people suffered due to the war. Through the Budget, more funds may be allocated to them—no issue with that. However, in his Budget speech, the Hon. President said that the Eastern Province would be developed mainly through funds anticipated from the Government of India. This is worrisome. It is like saying, “We will feed the child once it is born,” when there is a living child already asking for food. The situation must change. The Eastern Province, too, is a war-affected region with many problems.

¶ 05 Past rulers sowed ethnic, regional, and religious divisions there, separating Tamil, Sinhala, and Muslim communities who had lived like nail and flesh. They were turned into adversaries, made suspicious of one another, even portrayed as killers to each other. Today, we see the Hon. President as a redeemer rescuing those people from that legacy.

¶ 06 In Batticaloa District, whether at District Development Committee meetings or in the comprehensive programme of the NPP government, the Eastern Province Governor Prof. Jayanta Lal Ratnasekera, our District Development Committee Chair, Hon. Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra, and Hon. Kandhasamy Prabu, Chair of the Regional Development Committee, are all working beyond ethnic and regional biases to establish good governance. I thank them.

¶ 07 You know the Eastern Province contributes Rs. 33,449.6 million to national income. Therefore, our request to carry out development projects in our area is reasonable. We are not here to blame the government or misrepresent the NPP; we place a fair request before you.

¶ 08 Under the previous government, about Rs. 120 million was allocated for Kadiyar Road in Eravur, but due to delays in tender processes, the funds were withdrawn. Though funds were allocated for the indoor sports ground of Aligar National School, it remains half done due to insufficient time and other reasons. Eravur hospital faces congestion; this should be addressed through Budget allocations.

¶ 09 Though road development was undertaken previously, the project to widen the Eravur Main Road from Tirukkondiyamadu to Pottuvil was abandoned due to the arbitrary approach of those in power. This has resulted in frequent accidents. To change this, funds must be allocated and the road widened on both sides.

¶ 10 In Digamadulla District, the Oluvil Port—brought by the late M.H.M. Ashraff, former National Leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress—was viewed through an ethnic lens by previous rulers. Today, Oluvil, Kalmunai, Akkaraipattu, and Sammanthurai are severely affected by sea erosion, with lands being gradually swallowed by the sea. Though politicians and officials visited on field trips, the then government looked at the project through an ethnic lens and did not allocate funds, leaving it half-done.

¶ 11 Further, waters from Gal Oya and Iginiyagala flow through the Kaliyodai Bridge into the South Eastern University premises, disrupting its operations, damaging assets and buildings, and creating severe inconvenience for students. A proper programme is needed: build a protective bund and allocate adequate funds to safeguard the university’s functions.

¶ 12 The late Deputy Minister K. Badiudeen (Bais) of Puttalam rendered immense service to his people. May Allah grant him Paradise. In his memory, the roof of the memorial auditorium building was damaged by winds about six months ago and remains unrepaired due to an ill-planned development project. He also initiated the “Alpha–Beta” shopping complex within the Puttalam Urban Council area. About Rs. 80 million has been spent, yet the project remains incomplete. Please allocate funds and complete it.

¶ 13 Rs. 2.4 billion has been allocated to the Eastern University—good. Considering the welfare of the Medical Faculty students, the Hon. President has allocated this money. I thank him. Previously, despite requests to purchase an MRI scanner for the Professorial Unit, certain groups within the medical sector allegedly blocked it. Had the MRI scanner been procured, it would have greatly benefited medical students. At least now, from the Rs. 2.4 billion allocation, if an MRI scanner is provided, all students in the Professorial Unit will benefit.

¶ 14 The Hon. President has mentioned housing for journalists in the Budget. Under the last government, land was given to journalists in our district, but unfortunately Muslim journalists were excluded. That must change. I am not objecting to land given to Tamil journalists; but the previous rulers, with the intent of spreading communalism, did not give land to Muslim journalists. Correct this and grant land to Muslim journalists as well.

¶ 15 Hon. Presiding Member (The Hon. Presiding Member)

¶ 16 Hon. Member, your time is over.