The Hon. Imran Maharoof

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member. In today’s debate on the Companies (Amendment) Bill, the Hon. Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, referred to Muthunagar in Trincomalee. Briefly, I wish to add:

¶ 02 In Muthunagar, people who have been engaged in agriculture for decades are being rendered destitute. The Leader of the Opposition spoke about the situation there and the requests made by the farmers’ associations. Clearly, for 53 years, over 350 people—more than 1,000 family members—have lived there, cultivating in two seasons: maize, cassava, and vegetables.

¶ 03 There is a school established in 1972, mosques and temples—evidence that people lived and farmed there. Today, that land has been given to certain private companies without the people’s consent. When the Leader of the Opposition raised this, the government side became angry, claiming it was initiated under the previous government. If so, let me ask: the Kurinjakkerni bridge in Kinniya, which I represent—under which government was its funding allocated?

¶ 04 If it’s a good project, you won’t talk about it; if it’s problematic, you say it was started by the previous government. We are not blaming you; you are in power now and chair the coordinating bodies. We ask you to rectify past mistakes and deliver justice to these people. You claim it was gazetted during Sajith Premadasa’s time—how many governments came after that? Even then, people were not driven out. Today they are compelled to come to the streets. This government promised to resolve issues so people need not protest. Yet you deflect to the past 76 years.

¶ 05 As a strong government, you must ensure justice and fairness to the farmers there and take action. If the Leader of the Opposition had not raised Muthunagar this morning, would this House even discuss it? We expect answers to the questions raised.

¶ 06 Going forward, we need clarity on resolving this: the company’s works have begun, ponds have been closed, many areas encroached. We are not against power generation or solar power companies. We want a solution for the long-time cultivators—compensation, alternative land, or allocation from remaining lands in the area. Decide and act. As a strong government, provide a solution. We remind you of your 2015 election pledges. Did you forget them? Taking all these into account, we expect your full support to provide a solution to these people. I conclude. Thank you.