The Hon. Mano Ganesan

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, I move the following Adjournment Motion:

¶ 02 Pursuant to the proposal of the Tamil Progressive Alliance, the intention to reorganize the then five Divisional Secretariat Divisions of the Nuwara Eliya District into ten Divisional Secretariat Divisions was proclaimed by Extraordinary Gazette No. 2147/28 dated 2019.10.29 during the “Good Governance” Government.

¶ 03 By that Gazette, the Divisional Secretariat established in Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya District encompasses 35 Grama Niladhari Divisions where plantation communities live. Its western boundary is Ratnapura, northern boundary Ambagamuwa Korale, southern boundary Ratnapura and Imbulpe, and eastern boundary Pasbage Korale and Talawakele Divisional Secretariat Divisions. According to the Gazette, this Divisional Secretariat, established in Norwood, has been functioning since 07 May 2019.

¶ 04 This Divisional Secretariat was established to provide day-to-day public services to the majority of the people living in those 35 GN divisions—largely the plantation population. We brought public administration closer to the people. For a highly marginalized community facing severe economic challenges, locating the Divisional Secretariat near where they live was a great boon.

¶ 05 Now, there are reports of a covert attempt to relocate it to Hatton town to satisfy the convenience of a few officials working there. Does the subject Minister know of this? Is this being done with Government approval? Was a decision taken in the Coordinating Committee hurriedly without consulting the people and their representatives?

¶ 06 The district’s people are watching closely. We therefore request, through the subject Minister, that this anti-people move be immediately stopped.