The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, first, when we came to Parliament, some called us “wild saplings.” Fine. Today, among those “saplings,” some are now illegal cannabis—especially near Embilipitiya. I must speak about that.

¶ 02 The government plans to allocate Rs. 500 billion for disaster relief. In my view, this is the most severe disaster we’ve faced. It still rains in Badulla—I left at 3 a.m., and it’s raining even now. The government’s task now is not new promises but doing what needs to be done. For example, “Vasanagama,” the first village built under President Premadasa’s Udagam program in Wiyaluwa, is now inaccessible—roads are blocked by rock and earth falls; they must be cleared and rebuilt.

¶ 03 The destroyed Uma Oya anicut was temporarily repaired by farmer organizations with sandbag bunds. Yesterday, Minister Samantha Vidyaratna ceremonially released water and offered alms; that’s good. The government began this work with religious blessing, which I welcome—because for the past year the government ignored religions, failing even to recognize them at local levels. At least now they remembered religion; I’m glad.

¶ 04 In Badulla, half the district is affected: roads and houses destroyed. To the Deputy Minister here—please note the road by Haggala Malchaththa. It’s “open,” but buses stop and passengers have to walk; travel remains risky. At Lunugala 19th milepost, passengers disembark and walk due to danger. A lot of work remains; losses exceed Rs. 1,000–2,000 billion, not merely Rs. 500 billion, and must be addressed.

¶ 05 We do not speak with malice. When the President came to the Badulla District Coordinating Committee to discuss the disaster, I was the only Opposition MP present from Badulla, seated at the back, but no one informed the President. Only after the meeting did he ask me, “Were you here?” This is the new situation: we are asked to help, we go, but are ignored. That is not the President’s personal fault; some malicious politicians failed to inform him.

¶ 06 Regarding the Army: soldiers did a great service. But while senior officers sit in chairs, the daily wages of soldiers stacking sandbags are being cut for “disaster contributions.” Instead of docking a day’s pay, give them a month’s pay as appreciation for their service. These soldiers worked from schools and community halls, yet their daily wage is deducted without their knowledge. This must stop.

¶ 07 Another issue: there appear to be two Grama Niladharis—one official under the Public Administration Ministry and another unofficial from the NPP office—both visiting houses to process the Rs. 25,000 grants. This harasses the official GN. One says “don’t give that house; give this one,” based on party lines. You came to do system change—don’t politicize relief. Floods and landslides did not occur by party: NPP, SJB, SLFP, or Pohottuwa. All suffered equally. Yet now a “Community Development Officer’s recommendation” is required, shadowing the GN to each house, blocking aid unless the NPP office concurs. This is wrong; previous governments erred similarly and paid the price. People expected a clean government.

¶ 08 Beyond the disaster, another looming mistake: LPG supply. About 80 percent of households use Litro (blue cylinder) gas. Until now supply came reliably from an Oman company. Now Cabinet has approved switching imports to a Swiss company. The Oman supplier’s cargoes were checked at sea by SLSI before discharge. The new company reportedly refuses at-sea SLSI checks and seeks to supply with only two vessels, and hasn’t even signed the new contract. If this proceeds, by February–March there will be a Litro gas shortage. Gas and power crises brought down a previous government—act responsibly. The new company has no experience distributing LPG in Asia; beware.

¶ 09 The dollar was Rs. 305 when you took over; today it is Rs. 313. You couldn’t even maintain the status quo.

¶ 10 You are now moving against Samurdhi Banks—the savings of village people—planning restructuring and other “games.” Hands off; these are poor people’s funds that sustain livelihood banks.

¶ 11 “Sri Lankan Day” was launched but could not proceed due to the disaster. Also, this government cannot even issue vehicle number plates. For six months, imported vehicles await plates; the previous supplier was removed but no swift replacement—people are waiting. Meanwhile, an unsold vehicle is taxed 3 percent every three months—during a disaster, who can buy? That is unfair. Provide relief: suspend the quarterly 3 percent tax or extend to six-month intervals so vehicles can be sold.

¶ 12 At CEB, restructuring offered VRS packages; those who opted in December now are told to wait another year. People planned to resign and even go abroad; now they’re told to delay. This is unacceptable.

¶ 13 Equipment from Padaviya Hospital is being moved to Thambuttegama. Padaviya is a poor, difficult area. If Thambuttegama needs equipment, provide new units; don’t strip Padaviya 150 km away.

¶ 14 Relief items donated by outsiders remain piled up in District Secretariats and AGA offices nearly a month on, not distributed. The government itself has not yet delivered the Rs. 25,000 to even 50 percent of the displaced. With this pace, can you finish before the next rains? I doubt it. I conclude.