The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, I will also use the time allotted to Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha.

¶ 02 Under the Heads of Transport/Highways/Ports/Civil Aviation and Urban Development/Construction/Housing, I first address recurrent flooding in Akurana, often discussed in this House. Major events occurred in 2001, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2023. I issued a booklet during the last campaign detailing mitigation steps, but they remain incomplete. Civil society participation and UDA’s enforcement against illegal constructions are essential.

¶ 03 Several tributaries—Hunnasgiriya Oya, Owissa Oya, Balapitiya Oya, Wahagalla Oya, Alawathu Oya—drain into Pinga Oya which runs through Akurana; intense rainfall leads to flash floods. We requested a feasibility report from the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLLRDC)—under your Ministry—Sri Lanka’s lead agency for flood mitigation. About Rs. 22 million is required for this study; please allocate and expedite it (report due in seven months). Then we can proceed with a structured plan.

¶ 04 There are myths (e.g., Polgolla barrage causing Akurana floods) that local engineers have refuted. I table the “Engineers’ Association – Akurana (EEA)” recommendations:

¶ 05 “Engineering Association Akurana EEA Recommendations to Mitigate Flash Floods in Akurana

¶ 06 The Engineers’ Association, Akurana (EEA) has been deeply concerned about the repeated flash flooding of Akurana from Pinga Oya tributaries. Since the late 1990s, there has been increased construction into the river channel, dumping of wastewater and other waste, loss of flood plains in the river margins, and a rapid increase of impervious surfaces in the Pinga Oya sub-catchment around Akurana.

¶ 07 Primary causes: - Continued construction into the river and its margins; - Filling of flood overflow zones; - Loss of vegetated infiltration areas in the catchment; - Dumping of solid waste and construction debris in the river.”

¶ 08 Signed by Eng. J.M. Samoon and Eng. L.M. Zubair—eminent engineers; one has worked at Yale University and maintains a climate research centre with detailed rainfall datasets for Akurana. Invite them to the Ministry or UDA. I have already written to Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha at the last Kandy DCC seeking a detailed seminar; Peradeniya University has held one previously with research papers. Draw from these to shape interventions.

¶ 09 I table: - The EEA document, - A dossier on Akurana flooding, - My letter to the DCC Chair (Hon. Lal Kantha).

¶ 10 Please release the Rs. 22 million to SLLRDC for the feasibility and enforce UDA statutes against illegal riverbank encroachments so we can implement durable solutions.