The Hon. (Dr.) Elayathamby Srinath

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to speak in this debate on the Government’s second Budget, the 80th of this country. We welcome and commend the positive aspects of this Budget. Importantly, to strengthen the economy, reduce the deficit, and increase foreign reserves, the Government has proposed many measures. We also appreciate the housing program for those displaced by the war in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, and, very importantly, the wage increase for estate workers.

¶ 02 Funding has been allocated for many development projects in Batticaloa District as well—especially for the Kiran Bridge and the Ponnudurippu-Seenai Bridge—thanks to the attention and allocations by the line Minister, and for the development of the Valachchenai Fisheries Harbour. We are also grateful for allocations under the Mundeni Aru Project to connect the Kithul tanks, provide basic amenities for Urukamam, and for allocations to universities.

¶ 03 At the same time, as we have repeatedly emphasized, many issues remain acute in Batticaloa. In the Padavan-karai and Eluvankarai areas—particularly Padavan-karai—there is a heavy responsibility to improve health services and basic infrastructure in this very backward region. We have made many submissions for that. In Padavan-karai, several hospitals provide services; the Government bears a responsibility to develop them, as they have languished without improvement for long periods. Additionally, many bridges and rural roads there must be developed.

¶ 04 Further, Batticaloa District has rich marine resources. Therefore, beyond developing the Valachchenai Harbour, there is a need to establish additional fisheries harbours along the coast from Kathiraveli to Periya Kallar. We had earlier proposed such harbours in Kathiraveli and Kaluwanchikudy, with feasibility studies to protect local ecosystems while boosting national production.

¶ 05 In the past, our area had over 400 small, medium, and large tanks. Today, far fewer remain. Many of these tanks lie within areas under the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Department, and the Mahaweli Authority. Only by releasing appropriate tanks from these institutions can we strengthen irrigation in the region.

¶ 06 I must also raise a very important issue: in Batticaloa District, livestock and grazing land issues are severe, especially in Mayilathamadu and Mathavanai. People have been protesting on the streets for over 750 days on the Mayilathamadu grazing issue. Why has this Government with a large majority not prioritized it? Are they ignoring it? People continue to protest. Likewise, grazing land issues are serious in Vellaveli, Pattipalai, and Vakarai. The Budget does not set out responsibilities or plans to address these or provide facilities for the herders.

¶ 07 We have also repeatedly raised the human-elephant conflict. In Batticaloa, it continues to claim lives and destroy property. Though around 96 km of elephant fencing was promised, not even 6 km has been erected to date. Elephants are damaging fields and taking lives. Therefore, the Department of Wildlife Conservation must establish sub-offices there. The Budget speaks of recruiting 5,000 officers to the Department; priority should be given to our district to establish offices and appoint necessary officers. Even last week, people were compelled to take to the streets due to continuing fatalities. Do not limit responses to compensation; take initiatives through the Budget to resolve these issues.

¶ 08 Next, the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital is the only teaching hospital not only for our district but for the Eastern Province. In the previous Budget, allocations were made via the Health Ministry for MRI and a Cath Lab. In this Budget, funding is said to be allocated to develop Radiology. However, there is an acute land-space shortage. To resolve it, the land occupied by the adjacent prison—since an alternative site has reportedly been allocated to that prison—should be transferred to the hospital. The prison too faces overcrowding, with about 700 inmates kept in space meant for around 350. Relocating it to the allocated site will make land available for the hospital’s expansion. We proposed this at the District Coordinating Committee as well, but have not yet received a favorable response.

¶ 09 There is also an over-90-year-old building at the hospital housing the ENT unit, maternal and child care, operating theatres, and ICU. There is a real fear it may collapse. The Budget has allocations for new buildings at several hospitals, including multi-storey hospitals. In the Health Ministry’s master plan, a proposal exists for a six-storey building for this hospital. Immediate studies and preparations should be undertaken to implement it, and priority granted.

¶ 10 At Batticaloa Teaching Hospital, subspecialties lack dedicated wards. Patients are accommodated in other wards. For example, though Sri Lanka has a very high number of diabetes patients, there is no dedicated ward for that care, compelling patients to remain in other wards. With over a thousand beds, the hospital’s bed occupancy rate exceeds 80 percent. Therefore, the Government bears a responsibility to recognize this hospital as the principal hospital in the Eastern Province and allocate funds to implement such development.

¶ 11 The new education reforms contain many good measures. However, even if History becomes a modular subject, History should remain in the curriculum, including World History and local histories relevant to Batticaloa. I submit that request here.

¶ 12 Further, staffing in our education zones is a serious problem. For example, in Kalkudah Zone, about 75 mathematics teachers are required but only around 25 teach there, many on temporary appointment. With only a third of the required math teachers, how can the students receive proper education? Such crises remain. The Budget says vacancies will be refilled during the year; please ensure that.

¶ 13 The Budget also proposes recruitment and positions for teachers. Critically, lack of proper infrastructure is a serious problem for students in Kalkudah Zone. Students still study sitting on the floor, in tin sheds, or under trees. These needs must be prioritized and addressed.

¶ 14 Regarding the Environment Ministry, the allocations to the Department of Wildlife Conservation are significant. However, despite past Cabinet directives to release lands for chena cultivation and common-use lands from the Forest Department, there are delays and obstacles in implementing them. The Government is responsible for remedying this because people expect equality from you.

¶ 15 We also thank the Hon. Minister who stated that during the upcoming Maaveerar Remembrance Day, people will be able to pay homage without constraints. At Thandiyadi there is a Maaveerar Resting Place. We have repeatedly requested—also at District Development Committee meetings—permission to remember them there. No practical steps have been taken. Since the Government is amenable to such commemorations at burial sites, arrangements should be made this time to allow homage at the Thandiyadi Maaveerar Resting Place.

¶ 16 While many Budget proposals are healthy, for the North and East—ravaged by war and subsequent neglect—please accept the requests of all people’s representatives and implement programs to rebuild. During the World Bank–led program recently brought forward, our counsel as representatives of Batticaloa was not sought and the people’s requests were denied. A Government that upholds equality should act patiently and prudently here.

¶ 17 Beyond development, politically, Tamil people voted for you—and for us—on Tamil national aspirations. In the North and East, the majority voted for Tamil nationalism. Therefore, do not stop at saying funds are allocated for Provincial Council elections; with your two-thirds majority in this Government, with sincerity, take steps to conduct Provincial Council elections with full powers next year.

¶ 18 We recognize and support your strong efforts against illegal drugs, corruption, and the underworld. However, why do you not use your strong mandate likewise to deliver on Tamil rights? Your manifesto promised to release political detainees and repeal the PTA. Yet there has been no implementation and you act as if you have forgotten it. Why no firm decision?

¶ 19 You enact many laws for children and women; we support them. But in the past, children like Balachandran were killed unjustly; at Chemmani, even children were killed and buried. You are lagging in ensuring justice and inquiries. Many women like Isaipriya suffered—why hesitate to establish an international justice mechanism? Such omissions cause distrust and anguish among Tamils.