The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to participate in the debate on the 2025 Budget brought by the Government. This Budget contains many good proposals, yet there are obligations and gaps that must be addressed.

¶ 02 On the Eastern Province: allocations have been made both for ongoing projects and new programmes. However, how much of this is earmarked specifically for Tamil areas of Ampara District remains unclear. It is stated that, with Indian assistance, development projects in the East will be undertaken. What is the total allocation? For which projects? In which areas? How will they benefit our people? The Budget does not specify. We also hear that INR 7.5 billion has been pledged by India for the Eastern Province, but even the MoU has not yet been signed. We thank the Government of India, but when Sri Lanka handles those funds, the pressing problems of Ampara must be addressed.

¶ 03 In Thirukkovil, the Base Hospital has long been neglected. Political interference in the past stalled previously allocated funds. Many base hospitals in Ampara benefited from Kuwait or UAE funding due to local political influence, yet the most important one in a Tamil area—Thirukkovil Base Hospital—did not. It remains in a primitive state: inadequate modern facilities, no buildings fit for purpose, equipment without proper support, and a severe shortage of doctors. Where approximately 26 doctors are needed, only six are posted. There is no VOG; there are cadre slots for specialists, but no specialists actually serving. This leads to preventable deaths, patients returning without care, and frequent transfers to other hospitals.

¶ 04 Yesterday, I raised this directly with the President and the Health Minister in the canteen. They said action will be taken. Even if funds do not come from our tax revenue, at least allocate from Indian funding to develop Thirukkovil Base Hospital.

¶ 05 Over the last 10–15 years, hundreds of millions to more than a billion rupees at a time were given to other base hospitals and the District General Hospital in Ampara, but Thirukkovil was systematically excluded by those in power to serve their own ends—at the cost of human lives. This Government was elected to rectify past wrongs and must correct this.

¶ 06 I appreciate several positive aspects: the drive towards a digital economy, production, industry, and export-oriented manufacturing. We need robust economic growth based on production, as successful countries have built strong industrial and digital economies. The Budget should operationalize these plans.

¶ 07 On pending local priorities in Ampara: through the Indian High Commission and the National Planning Department, we submitted many proposals in 2017–2018. At least implement some of them now, if not from our revenue then from forthcoming Indian assistance—such as the Kalmunai cultural hall project already processed through the National Planning Department and the Indian High Commission.

¶ 08 India has done much in the North and the Up-Country; now it is taking initiatives in the East too. We appreciate India’s continued support to Sri Lanka.

¶ 09 On agriculture and dairy: protecting and incentivizing farmers is essential. Domestic milk production meets only about 45% of demand; the remaining 55% is imported. The Budget’s measures to boost dairy are commendable. However, to truly increase milk production, protect dairy farmers and ensure adequate pasture lands.

¶ 10 Specifically, the 4,000-acre Vattamadu area in Ampara was gazetted as pasture in 1976. In 2010, the Forest Department included that pasture within a forest boundary and re-gazetted it. After recent floods, high-value livestock deaths were massive. Now there is inadequate grazing space. Forest has overgrown much of the 4,000 acres; clearing is needed to restore pasture, but the Forest Department denies permission and farmers face arrests when they go there. The Government must restore the 4,000 acres to pasture use. Ampara has over 150,000 livestock, with Vattamadu as the only substantial pasture. Support farmers with credit that shares risk, provide compensation for losses, and deploy veterinary officers to protect herds and incentivize farmers.

¶ 11 On resettlement: funds are allocated, but even after around 40 years, basic facilities remain lacking for those resettled. In Pottuvil’s Kanagar Village, out of 196 resettled persons, only 76 have received land permits; the rest must be granted as well. Even for the 76, there are no basic amenities—housing, drinking water, or road development. The area is just forest scrub cleared by the settlers themselves; they survive with subsistence farming and minimal incomes. Provide basic facilities and a housing programme for them. They engaged in a hunger strike for about 400 days to secure permits; ensure the remaining permits are issued and deliver housing and infrastructure. The people of Kanagar Village will stand with you if you do so.

¶ 12 On water supply: we welcome increased allocations, but Tamil areas in Ampara have been neglected repeatedly. I have challenged former Ministers responsible for water supply on why Tamil areas were ignored. This Government, which claims to act without ethnic or religious bias, must implement water projects in all needed locations in Ampara’s Tamil areas and respond to this demand.

¶ 13 Under Indian housing programmes, many houses remain incomplete; please allocate funds to complete them.

¶ 14 Thank you.