The Hon. Naina Thambi Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, I speak on behalf of the people affected by the floods. Under the leadership of our party leader, Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress, we travelled across the island and provided immediate solutions where possible. Yesterday, while travelling around the country, our leader also visited the Geli Oya area. As a party leader, he fulfilled his duty, and I first extend my thanks to him and to our party.

¶ 02 I represent the Puttalam District. In that district, farmers have virtually lost everything because of this disaster. In Kalpitiya, there is nothing left to cultivate; vegetables, fruits, and all crops have been destroyed. We ask compassionately that assistance be provided not merely as handouts, but by reducing the prices of fertilizers, currently Rs. 15,000 to 20,000, so farmers can regain the strength to cultivate again.

¶ 03 Regarding the salt industry, Sri Lanka’s name is associated with Elephant Pass salt and the Hambantota salterns. However, more than 50% of the country’s salt production is distributed from the Puttalam salterns, which have been largely devastated. Assistance and infrastructure are needed there. There is not even a proper access road. I request that all necessary infrastructure facilities be provided.

¶ 04 The prawn (shrimp) industry has also suffered heavy losses; projects worth many crores of rupees were destroyed. A plan must be put in place to revive the industry. Meanwhile, when the Hon. President came to Puttalam and spoke with our people, he was given a wrong understanding about the Puttalam–Mannar road. That road existed before the war; it was closed during the war and then reopened when Hon. Rishad was Minister. People from Mannar, Puttalam and Marichchikatti travelled on it. Some officials wrongly claimed it had been closed for 30 years. In truth, it was closed only for around four years after the war and later partially restricted. We ask that the road be fully carpeted and at least opened for people to travel.

¶ 05 In some places children still cannot attend school due to waterlogging. I request urgent steps to reopen such schools. We welcome the government’s decision to provide Rs. 25,000 for cleaning houses, but to receive this, people must travel up to 40 km to the AGA office, sometimes paying Rs. 5,000 for a three-wheeler. If officials and police could be mobilized to distribute these funds at village level through mobile arrangements, the people would greatly appreciate it.

¶ 06 Industries in Puttalam—the salt industry, aquaculture (prawn), and coir—make a significant contribution to the national economy. We request, beyond politics, that these be restored. We can only do politics if there is a country: regardless of government or opposition, there must be a strong economy and resolved public problems. Debating here alone will not help unless it yields practical relief for the people.