The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees. Through passing the Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers (Amendment) Bill and the National Minimum Wage of Workers (Amendment) Bill, workers—especially the lowest paid—will receive a Rs. 6,000 relief or salary increase. We welcome and commend this. As the Minister noted, by merging the relief allowances into the basic, EPF/ETF and other benefits will improve. Those getting Rs. 27,000 now will get Rs. 30,000 from 01.01.2026. But Rs. 30,000 is roughly USD 100—still very low. Nevertheless, given the bankrupt economy this Government inherited, this increase is a good step.

¶ 02 Our bankruptcy was not caused by the people, but by previous governments. To recover, we must bring investors. Even with investment, logistics matter. India has arranged a USD 65 million grant, but since 2017 it has been delayed. I raised this earlier. Developing the Kankesanthurai (KKS) harbour will benefit not only the Northern Province but the entire country, increasing revenue and growth. We should not miss this opportunity.

¶ 03 I also bring a Vavuniya issue. In Vavuniya North DS Division, in Vedivaithakal GN Division, due to conflicts between locals and settlers from other districts, people were displaced in 1983, with atrocities then. After the war, in 2019, they tried to return to their own lands, clearing 150 acres near Thirivaithakulam to resume cultivation. The Forest Department filed cases against them; after five years, in 2024, the case was dismissed for lack of evidence. During that time, farmers were ordered not to access their fields, yet the Mahaweli Authority leased those paddy lands to settlers from other areas without permission, and even registered them in the name of an organization called Andaraveva Gamkarya. Officials were complicit.

¶ 04 Now, over the last month, 400–500 acres of dense forest have been cleared by the settlers. Police and Forest officials claim ignorance, though they arrest ordinary farmers for cutting a single stick to fix a fence. Such large-scale mechanized clearing cannot happen without backing; we suspect government or other powerful support. We fear the same mistakes of past majoritarian policies are recurring.

¶ 05 If returning displaced people can farm their own lands, it will help rebuild the economy faster. I urge immediate government intervention in this land matter. Thank you.