The Hon. Upali Samarasingha – Deputy Minister of Co-operative Development

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, I am pleased the subject Minister is present. In the 2026 Budget, a large allocation is made for Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government. I represent the Vanni District. For decades, the North suffered unfortunate circumstances; post-war development by successive governments left many gaps, especially in infrastructure. I draw the Minister’s attention to the acute shortages of heavy machinery in municipal and local authorities in the Northern Province, and to significant staff vacancies across ministries and departments there. I request special attention to address these deficits so local bodies can function effectively.