The Hon. Imran Maharoof

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member. Within my limited time, I wish to raise issues from our district.

¶ 02 Between Trincomalee and Colombo, only night and morning ordinary train services operate. For security and convenience, many prefer daytime travel. The daytime air-conditioned express service between Trincomalee and Colombo has been suspended for ten months. Trincomalee is a growing tourist destination; visitors prefer daytime journeys. The suspension disappoints them. I request the Hon. Minister to urgently resume the daytime AC express service.

¶ 03 Regarding Urban Development, in areas between Ichchakandi, Kinnia and Pulmoddai, many lack piped drinking water as distribution has not been extended. Please extend the network from Kuchchaveli to Pulmoddai. In Kinniya Division, the number of water consumers has increased, but the existing small-diameter pipes fail to supply adequate daytime pressure. Please replace with larger pipes. The Kinniya Water Supply and Drainage Regional Office cannot manage the entire area; please establish another office in the Kinniya PS area, especially in Kachchakodi island, to serve residents.

¶ 04 Many housing projects initiated by the Ministry in the past were left incomplete. Please focus on completing them.

¶ 05 Several roads in Trincomalee District require development. Notably, the Kurinchakeni ferry tragedy occurred on 23 November 2021 when works were undertaken without alternate routes; eight people died. Yesterday marked four years since the accident. We pray for the departed. Kinniya, with nearly 100,000 people, has become a transport hub for the Eastern Province after post-war bridge construction, with traffic through Trincomalee–Batticaloa Road via Kinniya–Muttur. Congestion has intensified; please upgrade to a proper two-lane standard. Kinniya’s main road is narrow, causing frequent accidents and fatalities; please widen it.

¶ 06 In Muthur DS Division, the Thoppur Al-Hamra internal road received funds under good governance; stones were laid and bulldozing done, but after the change of government works were abandoned. Please take action to complete it. Many roads belong to RDD or to local authorities, with very few under RDA; local bodies struggle to rehabilitate them. Please take more roads under RDD/RDA for proper maintenance.

¶ 07 Also, resolve the long-standing Muthunagar land issue. Land belongs to the Ports Authority; 350 families were evicted; ponds were filled. Though a Private Member’s Motion was moved here, no action has followed. People keep protesting at the Trincomalee Kachcheri. Please provide land and housing solutions to them. Moreover, given the global rise of tourism in the Eastern Province, please enhance operations at the China Bay airport.

¶ 08 Thank you.