The Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, thank you for allowing me to join the Adjournment Debate on the Special Audit Report regarding the advance for importing 15,000 dairy cows and the COPE Report.

¶ 02 Over the past seven months, COPE examined numerous financial abuses across entities based on the Auditor General’s reports: National Youth Services Council, National Gem and Jewellery Authority, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital and University, and the Mahapola Fund. The Auditor General highlighted large-scale waste and misuse.

¶ 03 One key matter is the dairy cow import project to boost milk production. The AG’s report details how funds were wasted: low-quality cows were brought in the second phase, including animals with abortions and diseases, which then infected local herds and posed zoonotic risks—farmers incurred huge losses and some abandoned operations. Milk is a staple; scamming such an import is inexcusable. Only about 30 percent of total consumption is met locally; 70 percent is imported at significant cost, draining our reserves. A USD 11 million corruption related to the dairy imports is a grave loss; those responsible must be punished. Many Sri Lankans, especially Hindus, venerate the cow as Gomatha; cheating under the guise of dairy development is particularly offensive.

¶ 04 Sri Lanka has the climate and resources for farm production, yet past actions created shortages. Our Government plans to establish modern farms, allocate necessary funding, and import suitable breeds adapted to our climate—preferably from Asian countries. The previous Australian imports required air-conditioned housing, causing huge waste.

¶ 05 We will also provide cattle feed at controlled prices. In Jaffna, the Yarlco cooperative is heavily engaged in livestock; our Government will support it. Currently, Prima and Mahaweli feeds are reaching people at high prices; we plan to distribute via cooperatives to reduce costs.

¶ 06 Many chilling centres in the North and East lie defunct—these will be revived to buy milk at fair prices from producers, increasing local production and jobs.

¶ 07 In Jaffna District, there are 27 veterinary vacancies, 43 development officer vacancies, and 24 driver vacancies in the Department of Animal Production and Health. We will fill these and provide medicines and equipment through veterinary offices, allocate grazing lands, and develop farms to achieve dairy self-sufficiency. Thank you.