The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, thank you. A colleague said the Opposition did nothing; I will not dwell on that. In fact, at the Opposition’s request—including Hon. Namal Rajapaksa—we convened Parliament yesterday and today to approve this supplementary estimate to restore our people’s lives. We fully support it.

¶ 02 From the outset, the tri-forces, District and Divisional Secretaries, Grama Niladharis, health sector and the entire public service performed admirably, and the public, setting aside party and creed, treated this as a national duty—especially in Galle which I represent.

¶ 03 A government cannot manage a disaster 100%. We acknowledge shortcomings: early warnings and preparedness had weaknesses; rescue-readiness was insufficient in some areas. Now the priority is relief, restoration, and return home. While the Government has acted, we caution against politicized interventions and interference in administration—such as incidents with a Grama Niladhari in the North. The Government must empower officials to work without fear and instil confidence in them.

¶ 04 Proposals: - Land-use: The 1980 National Environmental Act envisioned land-use controls but fell short. Enact clear land-use laws to designate residential, agricultural, plantation, industrial, and forestry zones. - Sensitive zones: The 13 environmentally sensitive zones identified via Environmental Protection Committees are insufficient; identify more and enforce the Soil Conservation Act zones robustly. - Soil Conservation Fund and Board: Resolve governance issues—currently involving 12 Secretaries—to operationalize effectively. - Agriculture: Of ~1.85 million ha used in Maha season nationally, only ~0.5 million ha were cultivated this time; about 20% of that was damaged. The Department of Agriculture must urgently manage that 20%. Before the inter-monsoon in January, promote short-duration seeds and provide fertilizers to replant damaged areas. Many small rice mills were destroyed—assist them. - Imports: If rice imports become necessary given regional agricultural impacts, plan prudently. - Tourism: With a target of USD 10 billion, ensure damaged attractions—especially in the South—are restored quickly and adapt marketing to sustain arrivals. - Pulmoddai mineral sands: Address current issues there as well.

¶ 05 We stand ready to assist. Thank you.