The Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to speak in support of the Private Member’s Motion on “Acquisition of Estate Roads to the Government”.

¶ 02 Though the Mover is from the Opposition, during the 76 years of alternating governments, the Plantation Ministry was a prestigious portfolio under them, yet they failed to rebuild estate roads or uplift the living standards of hill-country people. The Mover has cited many examples, showing he understands the reality — I welcome that.

¶ 03 Our hill-country community still lacks basic facilities — drinking water, roads, sanitation, housing. Before the National People’s Power (NPP) Government came to office, we highlighted these in election platforms precisely because previous rulers, even while holding the plantation portfolio, did nothing for hill-country people and discriminated against them. As NPP, we are implementing programmes to integrate the hill-country people into the national mainstream so they can live as Sri Lankans with equal entitlements.

¶ 04 Unlike past so-called representatives, we are delivering. For housing, we are providing land with secure title and full infrastructure, with a programme for 5,400 houses for the hill-country. In areas like Kabaragala and Meeriabedda, people have suffered for 2–3 years and some over 10 years in camps; we are giving them land with secure title and building houses with infrastructure. Under the Clean Sri Lanka programme, we have included hill-country communities; until new houses are built, we are renovating the line rooms they currently occupy. We will provide all necessary infrastructure — roads, bridges and more — as promised.

¶ 05 Therefore, people rejected those who ruled for so long and sent NPP to Parliament. As we said, we will certainly deliver for our people. Thank you.