Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne

¶ 01 Another issue: Under Section 38 of the Land Acquisition Act, UDA acquires land for development—say for Greater Kandy—on Cabinet approval as an urgent public purpose. What happens is that many people go to court and obtain stay orders and keep cases calling every six months until the government changes, without even appearing. List the national projects that are crucial. For many projects, multiple governments have approved cabinet papers, set aside funds, and secured investments, yet projects are not implemented. Either they are stuck in the Attorney General’s Department or dragged with six-month calling dates.

¶ 02 For example, for Gampola urban development, Rs. 678 million was allocated; only Rs. 112 million was spent and the rest returned to the Treasury. Today there are seven cases pending related to acquired lands, being dragged for years. I’m not asking for private interventions or representations to the AG. I’m asking the Government to create a continuous mechanism to carry forward essential, Cabinet-sanctioned works without halting. Investments, funds, and approvals exist; yet projects don’t reach the ground.

¶ 03 Therefore, in urban development, if we do not carry forward necessary works properly, this will become a serious problem. We are already facing severe consequences. We request that once such decisions are made, empower officials with a mechanism to take work forward.

¶ 04 Hon. Chair, last year we allocated a plot for an office complex for 200 new lawyers in Kandy, on UDA land. This land was assigned in 1990 via the Divisional Secretary for courts and a prison. With the relocation of the Pallekele Prison, some land remained. There are over 200 new lawyers in Kandy without office facilities. The UDA’s primary purpose here is to provide land needed for judicial functions. Accordingly, the proposal was to give this land so they can build their chambers. Lawyers will spend Rs. 307 million; the Government only provides land.

¶ 05 Hon. Minister, the proposal was to grant the land to the Bar at the 1990 acquisition value. Unfortunately, the UDA DG proposed giving it at 1990 value to the Bar Association, but the Cabinet paper states to give at current market value. The Government does not need to do “business” with lawyers. A prior 25-storey building proposal on that site failed; it lies abandoned. If we grant 40 perches for 200 new lawyers to build chambers, it would aid them and strengthen legal services. Please reconsider this decision: no need to give free land; recover the Government’s cost; but set up a process enabling new lawyers to function.

¶ 06 Another issue: The “Clean Water for All” programme implemented many projects and a plan to supply drinking water to all. In Kandy District, only about 65–68% have pipe-borne water; in Teldeniya, despite two reservoirs, perhaps only 40–45% have. Under the plan, areas without NWSDB supply were to be covered through community water schemes integrated into a single programme. I request that for my Gampola electorate’s 128,000 people, Rs. 3.2 billion is needed to provide water for all. I know the Government cannot fund all now, but if acquired lands are properly managed and retained, we can progressively implement and strengthen the plan. In some partially completed projects, NWSDB has acquired land; but if within one to three years the new Government does not implement a plan, those lands will be re-encroached or reassigned, and the primary goal of water supply will be abandoned. Water is a basic need. Without water, transport, and highways, talk of advanced development is pointless.

¶ 07 I am not saying to implement old plans as-is. Appoint a suitable committee, review and identify the essential and correct proposals for the country, and build a plan to carry them forward. Even with billions allocated, it is insufficient. In electricity, when building hydropower or solar, we merged with the private sector. Likewise for water, we propose a new “Basin” concept: all water sources are national assets; work with private sector to maximize use and provide water to all, allowing reasonable returns, since the Treasury alone cannot fund universal water. As we did mini-hydro with private sector, let’s similarly integrate private participation in water source development. Thank you for the time, Hon. Chair.