The Hon. Ravindra Bandara
Ravindra Bandara raised an urgent question on reported damage to paddy fields in Ampara following water releases from the Senanayake Samudraya during recent adverse weather, asking what action had been taken. He also sought relief for traditional cultivators farming State, LRC and Forest Department lands without permits, noting their exclusion from fertilizer subsidies, loans and crop insurance. He further asked whether the Government is investigating large politically allocated landholdings that remain uncultivated and what action will follow.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I have an urgent matter. While I accept the Deputy Minister’s request for time on my question, I wish to ask him now: Recent adverse weather, especially in Ampara, affected farmers. Water was released from the Senanayake Samudraya, and reports say this damaged paddy fields. What action has been taken and are you aware? Also, a separate issue: Many traditional cultivators farm on State, LRC, and Forest Department lands without permits—for example, in my Haputale electorate, in Haldummulla areas like Nevare, Unakanda, Alutwela, and Ussella. Lack of permits affects fertilizer subsidies, loans, and crop insurance. Has the Government devised relief for such traditional cultivators? Finally, large tracts—20, 40, 50, 100 acres—have been given on political patronage and lie uncultivated. Are these being investigated, and what action is being taken?
Provenance
- Source
- Hansard, Tuesday, 21 January 2025 ·No. 1737707091008005 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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/lk/speeches/27168
Cite as: The Hon. Ravindra Bandara. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 21 January 2025. No. 1737707091008005. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/27168