The Hon. Mano Ganesan

¶ 01 I will conclude quickly, Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees.

¶ 02 Before me, several Ministers spoke. They spoke about public servants, doctors, and fishermen; they also thumped their chests saying salaries were increased. True! But collectively, they forgot the estate workers, the lowest income earners. When Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake spoke, he said the daily wage of estate workers would be set at Rs. 1,700 and moved that, and that discussions would be held with plantation companies. Speaking like that alone will not make it happen. Do not look at this only as a wage issue; change the plantation system and bring a cooperative system so that workers become partners, not just labourers. Then it will be possible.

¶ 03 One Hon. Member here said that even when Ranasinghe Premadasa, who passed away 32 years ago, provided houses to the people, he did not provide houses to the hill country people, and that his son who is here now should apologise on his behalf. This is laughable. He did not only build houses; he established garment factories in which many hill country youth, both young men and women, work. So, saying that is wrong. Please, look at what is going to be done. We are not asking to immediately give land to our people or to immediately build houses. This Government has been in office for only three months; you cannot do it immediately. Tell us your land policy. We said seven perches; we said ten perches. How many perches will you give? How many perches for a house, how many for livelihood? Also tell us whether the houses you build will be individual houses or apartments. Do not avoid answering by hiding it.