The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, while today’s debate is on scheduled subjects, we must reflect on last week’s disaster. Some 465 lives have been lost; 368 people remain missing; over two million have lost homes; and about 175,000 children are affected. In Batticaloa, 12,446 families are affected; across the Eastern Province, over 41,000 families. In Batticaloa alone, 547 roads, 24 bridges and numerous houses have been damaged.

¶ 02 We pray for the souls of those who died and for the safe return of the missing. We must be grateful to all engaged in rescue and relief—the President, Ministers, Members of Parliament, and international partners including India, as well as local philanthropists and volunteers.

¶ 03 We have faced cyclones, tsunamis and landslides before. In the hill country, people are effectively living in death zones; repeated landslides have claimed many lives. Those at risk must be permanently resettled in safe locations. This is not limited to one government’s time; it is a long-standing issue that needs a durable solution.

¶ 04 We recognize the Hon. President’s tireless efforts. We, too, should avoid politicizing and instead help our people and those laboring on their behalf. Harsh criticism at this moment is inhumane.

¶ 05 In Batticaloa Padubannankarai areas, elephant movements have increased, while power cuts have left villages dark at night, heightening risk of elephant attacks. Provide electricity urgently to threatened villages such as Kothiyapulai, Kannanguda, Pullumalai, Thanthamale, Pawarkodichenai, Pancchenai, Kottiapulai and divisions including Paddipalai, Vakarai and Eravur Pattu.

¶ 06 Fisherfolk, farmers and three-wheeler drivers have been badly affected. Relief should reach them promptly. The Batticaloa District Secretary, Mr. J.S. Arulraj, informed me that funds are arriving and relief will be issued quickly upon submission of beneficiary details. Divisional Secretaries have also received allocations.

¶ 07 When floods submerge villages like Vettruchenai and Pirambaditheevu, residents need safe multi-storey refuge buildings. We recommended in the District Development Committee that at least one or two-storey public refuge structures be built in these low-lying, poor farming areas. This is essential for Vettruchenai and for Pirambaditheevu, where people are forced to flee to Akkaraipattu during floods.

¶ 08 Our farmers, fishers and daily wage workers have lost their livelihoods. Relief must be delivered swiftly and without corruption. Past war impacts devastated farms such as Karadiyanaru and Sathurukondan; rebuilding such productive assets would generate jobs.

¶ 09 In the Northern and Eastern Provinces, there are very few factories—about 96% of factories are located outside these regions. We need industrial development in these areas; Ampara has some, but other districts have very few.

¶ 10 In Batticaloa, between Padubannankarai and Eluvankarai there is no bridge; people use boats at great risk, which was evident during these floods. A bridge is necessary.

¶ 11 To mitigate Batticaloa floodwaters, implement the Mundeni Aru development to connect Urukamam and Kithulkulam, and enlarge tanks such as Kandiyanaru, Adaichakal and Kandaladi, and raise bunds to control flooding and improve cultivation.

¶ 12 Finally, let us conduct ourselves responsibly in this august House, avoiding unnecessary or indecorous remarks. Today we debate matters related to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. Please ensure corruption-free, stable development in the war-affected North and East. Thank you.