The Hon. W.H.M. Dharmasena

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I express sorrow for those who died across all 25 districts. In Monaragala District, all 11 DS divisions were affected in some way; in particular, upper areas of Badalkumbura, Dehigala–Wathuyaya in Bibile, Nagahawediya GN in Kataragama, Kongahapitiya GN in Siyambalanduwa, and Buttala DS were affected. Many villagers were stranded for three to four days at the temple in Veherayaya, Konkatiya, Buttala. The District Secretary, Divisional Secretaries, Disaster Management officials, health officials, Grama Niladharis, development and agriculture officers, Samurdhi officers, PHIs, Police, STF, Army, PS chairmen, Opposition leaders, and MPs all worked tirelessly. I thank them sincerely.

¶ 02 However, due to lapses by the Irrigation Department, gates of the Kumbukkan Oya Okkampitiya anicut were not opened in time though the Disaster Management Centre and the Met Department had warned earlier. When gates were opened all at once, a sudden deluge destroyed two bridges near Okkampitiya, causing losses of Rs. 100–150 million, and cut off access for farmers to their fields for fertilizer application. Please investigate these lapses and urgently repair or rebuild the two bridges.

¶ 03 Relief of Rs. 2,100 for seven days (Rs. 300 per meal per day) is inadequate; please increase to at least Rs. 5,000 per person for seven days. Many poor families live in mud houses; several in Buttala have collapsed. Electricity meters fixed to mud walls were destroyed; the CEB is charging about Rs. 38,000 for replacements—please provide meters at concessional rates to affected households.

¶ 04 Our hill-country Tamil community is in severe hardship; while officials are working, some areas still lack aid—please expedite. Regarding the “Red Star” programme: in our area it has not functioned as claimed; instead, when youths collected donations, attempts to brand them with “Red Star” labels created conflicts. Do not politicize community aid with labels. Our party does not distribute under colored stars. However, I believe a day is coming soon when stars will be visible again. Please help the destitute without partisan branding. Thank you.