The Hon. Imran Maharoof

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member.

¶ 02 We welcome this Adjournment Motion to release SLPA lands in 11 GN divisions in Town and Gravets, Trincomalee. However, in Muththunagar, people have suffered greatly, and the Government bears responsibility. Although the Gazette dates to my late father’s time and many ministers later handled Ports, were those governments treated this harshly by authorities then? People were living and working there.

¶ 03 Those very people who helped this Government to power now struggle even to meet responsible officials. They have been protesting in Colombo, going to the President’s Office and the Prime Minister’s Office; for 21 days they have been in front of the Kachcheri seeking solutions. At a recent DCC meeting, assurances were given that farmers could continue cultivation on surplus lands, yet five farmers were recently arrested by Police for cultivating there—unprecedented under any government. A pond has been filled, and the area so altered that one cannot tell if cultivation or habitation existed.

¶ 04 While bringing this Motion and pledging broader releases is welcome, please urgently resolve Muththunagar for the roughly 350 families. We have repeatedly raised this in and outside Parliament. Do not evade responsibility by invoking a 76-year “curse” and old Gazettes. You promised in the election that if you formed a Government, you would give these lands to the people. They still fight with that hope. Please talk to them, provide relief, and act on their demands.

¶ 05 You now have 159 Members in Government—unprecedented. With the President, Prime Minister, and DCC Chairmanships in your hands, do not just table motions; deliver prompt solutions to Muththunagar and proceed to release lands in the other GN divisions to public use. Thank you.