The Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today we debate the allocations for two major Ministries: Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation; and Urban Development, Construction and Housing.

¶ 02 Our Government previously allocated Rs. 5,000 million for rural roads in the Northern Province, then an additional Rs. 3,000 million, and a further Rs. 800 million—totalling Rs. 8,800 million—for which projects are ongoing. For Mannar District, Rs. 2,200 million has been allocated, and a further Rs. 200 million for Northern rural roads.

¶ 03 Roads are a country’s backbone, and transport is vital to the economy. Many rural roads had not been rehabilitated for years, causing great hardship. Taking this into account, the Government is vigorously carpeting rural roads. Over 60% of roads funded this year have been carpeted, and the remainder will be done soon, ensuring allocated funds are fully utilized.

¶ 04 In the past, regardless of allocations, political interference, particularly commissions demanded by politicians, impeded roadworks. For example, in Vavuniya District some roads were delayed due to such commissions. We are now fully rehabilitating those roads, and by preventing commission-taking and other malpractices, we have realized savings. This year Rs. 4,963 million was allocated; we saved Rs. 44 million, which will be reallocated to rural roads. On the Chettikulam–Menik Farm road, of the Rs. 11 million allocation, Rs. 2,278,000 was saved; for the Palavinayagar–Thonikkal road, of Rs. 17 million, Rs. 487,999 was saved.

¶ 05 To improve SLTB, 750 drivers and conductors are to be newly appointed, strengthening services for rural schoolchildren and patients. Under the Clean Sri Lanka programme, bus stands in Vavuniya, Jaffna, Mannar, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi, and railway stations in Mannar, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi and Jaffna will be rehabilitated. An additional Rs. 24,000 million has been allocated this year for rural road rehabilitation.

¶ 06 On the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA): in the past, housing schemes were undertaken for political ends and without planning, leaving people stranded midway, not knowing how to complete their homes. For Northern resettlement, Rs. 3,855 million was allocated this year, with additional funds by the President to reach Rs. 5,000 million, targeting 2,445 houses, with free electricity, drinking water and sanitation facilities.

¶ 07 Finally, in the islet areas of Jaffna District, due to inadequate transport, additional costs are needed to bring construction materials for housing. I request the Hon. Minister to consider providing such additional support. Thank you.