The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today we debate the allocations of two key ministries: Urban Development, Construction and Housing; and Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation. I am pleased to participate.

¶ 02 The Urban Development Ministry is crucial for organizing our cities and villages. We must ask what past holders of this portfolio accomplished. The leader of the SLMC, Hon. Rauff Hakeem, first held this ministry and promised to develop Kalmunai in Ampara District into a Dubai-like city; to date, those people have been deceived.

¶ 03 In Kalmunai, an NHDA building complex, about 40 years old, houses many offices on rent. It is dilapidated and at risk of collapse. It should be demolished and replaced with a 10–15 storey complex, beautifying Kalmunai. The Kalmunai public market, also established long ago through Urban Development, remains unchanged, lacking even sanitation, failing basic needs of the public. I request the Minister to address this.

¶ 04 On solid waste management in Ampara District: local authorities lack facilities. Through the Urban Development Ministry, provide resources and coordinate with councils to implement proper waste management. Flats built for tsunami-affected people still lack facilities and a proper environment. During floods, there is no proper waste clearing capacity even in municipal areas, causing public hardship. Please visit and allocate funds for needed works.

¶ 05 In Nintavur’s Velavallodai area, a beach park was built at great cost under Urban Development. It is now just walls and a building. On the Ministry’s request, Nintavur Pradeshiya Sabha took it over, appointing watchmen; they spend Rs. 2 million per year of taxpayers’ money for maintenance. Only recently the building was rented for Rs. 35,000 per month. Since the Ministry funded it, please inspect, and provide further funding to complete additional works.

¶ 06 Adjacent is the Velavallodai water body/lagoon. If cleaned and further developed, it could be used for tourism. Currently, due to neglect, nearby landowners encroach. Historically it supported fishermen, but after nearby constructions, it cannot be used; access paths are blocked. Please take up projects to restore it and develop tourism potential.

¶ 07 The Mannar–Silavathurai Cultural Hall proposed by the All Ceylon Makkal Congress has only 20% completed; it needs an additional Rs. 470 million. The previous Minister promised our Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen to complete it; I now request the new Minister to allocate funds.

¶ 08 In the Eastern Province, famed for tourism—Trincomalee, Nilaveli, Pasikudah, Arugam Bay, Panam—please establish rail connectivity linking these destinations for tourists, local entrepreneurs, and over 5,000 students at the Southeastern University and other institutions.

¶ 09 Finally, Oluvil Port comprises both commercial and fisheries functions. Over 25,000 people depend directly and indirectly on fisheries there. Coastal erosion from port development has damaged over 125 acres of paddy fields and coconut groves. Please provide compensation for these losses. The Hidayapuram road in Pottuvil needs rehabilitation. A park built during the former Pottuvil PS Chairman Basith’s term is now abandoned; please undertake its rehabilitation under Clean Sri Lanka. Thank you.