The Hon. Imran Maharoof

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I am participating in the Committee Stage debate on the budgetary allocations of the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, and the Ministry of Labour, to bring several issues of my Trincomalee District to the Hon. Minister’s attention.

¶ 02 Trincomalee District has 13 local authorities: one Municipal Council, one Urban Council and 11 Pradeshiya Sabhas. Most of these are low-revenue bodies. Recently, a new circular was issued directing that the salaries of casual workers who have been made permanent should be paid through the respective local authorities, with phased increases: 20% in 2025, 40% in 2026, 60% in 2027, 80% in 2028, and 100% in 2029 to be borne by the councils. Many councils in our district cannot generate the required revenue even to maintain development work. If councils must shoulder rising salary percentages, they will be compelled to increase taxes and fees, adding burdens on the public. The Government must either create revenue sources for local bodies or amend the circular.

¶ 03 In Trincomalee District, only the Trincomalee Municipal Council has a fire brigade. Due to lack of such facilities in Kinniya, Muttur, Thambalagamuwa and Kantale, firefighters must come from Trincomalee, by which time fires cause greater damage to buildings, property and sometimes lives. Even the pre-school building at Muttur Central College recently suffered damage in a fire. We request that, recognizing Trincomalee has only one Urban Council, a fire brigade unit be established at Kinniya Urban Council. We have discussed this since 2006, approvals were obtained, DCC decisions were taken; please act on them.

¶ 04 Local authorities lack JCBs and gully bowsers, and even Urban Councils have insufficient vehicles. During the November–December flood period, Pradeshiya Sabhas must borrow equipment from others, who themselves face shortages. If JCBs and gully bowsers for waste removal are provided based on need, our area will benefit.

¶ 05 Many Divisional Secretariats in Trincomalee face shortages of Assistant Divisional Secretaries (ADS), Deputy Directors of Planning (DDP), and Accountants. For example, the DDP serving Kinniya DS is also covering Muttur and Thambalagamuwa, forced to handle three offices within five days. These DS divisions serve large populations, causing public inconvenience and service delays. Please provide appropriate staffing solutions.

¶ 06 Boundary disputes persist in several DS divisions despite gazetted limits, creating inter-communal tensions. Please survey and demarcate as per gazettes the boundaries between Kinniya–Kantale, Kinniya–Thambalagamuwa, Muttur–Verugal, Verugal–Seruwila, Kuchchaveli–Gomarankadawala, and Kuchchaveli–Padavisiripura.

¶ 07 Several DS divisions have high populations and large areas, making services difficult. In Kinniya, one DS cannot meet all needs. Please create two DS divisions in Kinniya so people can access services easily. DCC discussions and decisions exist; kindly consider and implement them.

¶ 08 Regarding the Thoppur Sub-Divisional Secretariat under Muttur DS: during the previous government, through our efforts, a building was provided and it began functioning three days a week. It is operating even now. Please upgrade it to a full Divisional Secretariat and resolve cadre issues. Presently even as a DS, Muttur serves a large population; creating new DS divisions like Thoppur will ease access. Yet even in exams, students’ admission cards still cite “Thoppur Sub DS” per a 2016 notification; please regularize.

¶ 09 We also have a problem affecting firewood cutters who lack a proper licensing mechanism. They are sometimes arrested under drug charges and forced to pay Rs. 50,000–100,000—impossible for such livelihoods. The Government must coordinate the Divisional Secretariat, Police, Department of Forest Conservation, and Department of Archaeology to institute a proper licensing system for firewood cutting.

¶ 10 Thank you.