The Hon. D.V. Chanaka

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, in the past when floods came, people questioned whether the ruler was righteous or not, tying disasters to rulers’ morality. We will not say that today. Floods are part of natural processes. However, in this flood, about 12 lives have been lost and many affected. The Government has not clearly explained how affected families will restore their livelihoods. We hope compensation will be paid to families of the deceased.

¶ 02 Agriculture and property have suffered major losses. This is the prime season: many fields had 2–2½ months of growth. Hundreds of thousands of acres are fully destroyed. The current Agriculture Minister, Hon. Namal Karunaratne, has always spoken about agriculture, which I welcome. I ask: is Rs. 40,000 per acre sufficient? Most farmers have already spent at least Rs. 60,000 per acre; typical paddy costs are Rs. 90,000–100,000 per acre. Even if the farmer does his own work, he has spent at least Rs. 60,000 by now. A Rs. 40,000 grant does not even cover costs incurred.

¶ 03 In Hambantota District, many fields are 2½ acres; some areas elsewhere have 1‑acre plots. Families live on this income. If you pay Rs. 40,000 per acre, a 2½‑acre farmer gets Rs. 100,000. Spread over six months (two cropping seasons per year, roughly six months’ livelihood), that is Rs. 16,600 per month per family for 2½ acres; for 1 acre, only Rs. 5,500 per month. Can a farming family live on Rs. 5,500 a month? Even at 2½ acres, can a family live on Rs. 16,600 a month?

¶ 04 Hon. Deputy Minister, I recall you earlier said even Rs. 100,000 compensation is insufficient. Yet now, as Minister, you propose Rs. 40,000. We are disappointed.

¶ 05 You said you cut expenditures: no vehicles for ministers, selling existing vehicles, no corruption, no commissions on fuel. You claimed one‑third of state revenue—about Rs. 1.6 trillion—was lost to corruption. If that corruption is gone, why can’t you extend relief to farmers? You said Rs. 150–160 per litre was going as “commission,” about Rs. 30 billion a month; two months in, you should have Rs. 60 billion saved—enough to pay more than Rs. 100,000 per acre. Otherwise, were those past claims false?

¶ 06 We also heard Hon. Bimal Rathnayake say taxes cannot be reduced without a law. But the Finance Minister can adjust taxes by Gazette and seek Parliamentary approval within three months. You have a two‑thirds majority; you can reduce taxes now if you wish.

¶ 07 People await your response. In Hambantota there is partial damage: bunds broken, seed paddy lost. Yet we see no assessments underway. Farmers say no one has visited. Please consider partially damaged districts as well; many such fields exist. Farmers have already retied bunds and restarted at their own cost.

¶ 08 You promised fertilizer subsidies; but one round of urea alone is gone, and support has not reached farmers. If delayed by weeks, they will buy on credit and interest will nullify the benefit. Therefore, first deliver the fertilizer support immediately; then pay compensation for total and partial damage. Rs. 40,000 is inadequate; pay not less than Rs. 100,000 per acre.

¶ 09 Thank you.