The Hon. K. Kader Masthan

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.

¶ 02 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member. Today we debate the National Audit (Amendment) Bill and Supplementary Estimates. Amendments are brought to the National Audit Act to build a country free of corruption and fraud. Nevertheless, serious challenges remain. The people elected this Government believing it would eradicate corruption. I fully support this Bill.

¶ 03 However, certain audits by the National Audit Office have adversely affected our people. Those displaced in 1990 could not resettle for years; their lands lay fallow and became overgrown. Because they were not cleared then, these lands were treated as part of Wilpattu Forest due to an erroneous audit finding. Yet there are temples, house foundations, and wells on those lands. People in Musali and Manthai West in Mannar suffered significant setbacks in resettlement as a result. Officials must act diligently and properly.

¶ 04 Regarding the Supplementary Estimate for the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs: funding nutrition for pregnant mothers is vital. We support it but allocations remain inadequate; future Budgets should increase them to instill confidence among mothers.

¶ 05 Concerning the Supplementary Estimate for the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing: the Resettlement Unit falls under this Ministry. Post-war resettlement in our areas has lagged. Proper plans and arrangements are needed. Many places still have gravel roads; there is a pressing need for electricity and free water connections. These should be addressed through this Ministry’s allocations.

¶ 06 At the Mannar General Hospital there are serious deficiencies; we welcome India’s Rs. 600 million grant. I personally accompanied the Indian High Commissioner to the hospital to show the issues; he promptly agreed to support. I thank him.

¶ 07 Under Standing Order 27(2), I had also raised the need to release certain public lands under the Department of Forest Conservation; assurances were given to expedite.

¶ 08 On solid waste: the Mannar Municipal Council cannot remove garbage because a case has been filed regarding the Poomoddai dumping area. The case is listed for the 22nd of this month. Unless the Departments of Forest and Wildlife Conservation submit reports and release 10 acres for dumping, the whole town will reek. I urge the Minister to ensure the 10 acres are released properly and reported to court, so dumping can proceed lawfully. Thank you.