Hon. (Mrs.) Thushari Jayasingha, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Madam Presiding Member, during this debate on extending the Emergency Regulations under the Public Security Ordinance, I must note my disappointment, though I am pleased the Opposition has finally asked how pensions are to be funded. Panic has arisen because some have realized the dream of living the remainder of their term at public expense is ending, and now they seek conflict with the Government to prepare for something else.

¶ 02 On 26 November last year, continuous heavy rains fell across our areas. On 27 November, the “Ditva” cyclone caused a disaster across the central highlands. Villages were cut off; people had no means of contact; even phone lines were down. What has the Opposition done at such a time? They have tried to trip up the Government’s efforts to provide relief to those affected by the “Ditva” cyclone, pretending they would help us bring proposals.

¶ 03 A former Minister from Kandy District spoke here about a quarry at Illukwatta/Urulawatta/Udunuwara and questioned whether we were an environmentally friendly Government. Did that quarry commence under a licence issued this year? No, Madam Presiding Member. It has existed for a long time. If you look up the files, you will find when permission was given—long before this Government. Yes, there has been impact even to places of worship and an entire village, largely of our Muslim community, has suffered. But that permission predates this Government.

¶ 04 In the Gampola area, many remote parts of the Nawalapitiya electorate were devastated. Huge rocks had fallen on the road from Kandy to Kurunduwatta via Sinhapitiya. From the Ambuluwawe reservoir, large cut stone blocks came down. These were not natural boulders; they had been cut into neat rectangular blocks—anyone could see that. We walked through many villages and divisions on foot and saw this ourselves. Those blocks damaged homes and highways and caused massive losses requiring major public expenditure for repairs. This burden on the State arose because of the support you extended to certain private operations and because of collusive, underhand dealings. Entire communities like Ihala Gama in Maawatura slid away; only a few families remain and have no access roads. Whole families perished. While you say these provisions are unnecessary, have you met the sole surviving relatives and heard their grief and needs? Have you visited and spoken with them?

¶ 05 During your time in power, lands were acquired in Ihala Gama and tanks were built. Ask the people: they say a breached tank led to the landslide. You cannot now face those people; we can. Those who laid the foundations for these disasters cannot face the people. Yet you now try to incite them. The people tell us clearly who is operating under whose influence. We are the MPs who live among the people, still walk the villages and go to the markets daily. Our party’s MPs know the heartbeat of the people and what must be done for them—and we act accordingly.

¶ 06 We do not merely say, “Because of the disaster, do this or that; let the children sleep huddled.” We work. Today, His Excellency the President is in Kandy to provide relief to those affected by the “Ditva” cyclone and to lay foundation stones for several development projects. Funds are being released; cheques are being issued; lands and compensation for resettlement are being provided.

¶ 07 In addition, under the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” programme launched under the leadership of the Prime Minister, we are providing compensation for fully damaged houses and commencing MO housing construction in Kandy District today under the President’s patronage. Housing assistance distribution took place in Kundasale. We are not telling the people of the Central Province merely to bear this natural calamity and wait. We are not postponing development; we are proceeding. Work on the Mahaiyawa tunnel road is commencing today at a project cost of Rs. 699.6 million.

¶ 08 At the time of the disaster, Nawalapitiya town’s water supply stopped because pipelines were broken; supply ceased on the 28th and by 12.30 a.m. on the 29th, the main lines were repaired; by the morning of the 30th, we managed to restore supply to the Nawalapitiya District General Hospital. We did that through community participation.

¶ 09 Under the Emergency Regulations, we also coordinated critical works. In the Gangahathenna–Ganga Ihala Korale DS Division of Nawalapitiya, a very low-income area with minimal Pradeshiya Sabha capacity, there was only one backhoe. We obtained additional machinery and manpower from the Colombo Municipal Council to restore the area quickly. Similarly, for the Akurana DS Division, which floods even in small rains, we secured immediate support: the Karandeniya, Elpitiya and Weligama-Divithura Pradeshiya Sabhas in Galle District provided two backhoes, four excavators, three tippers and a tractor, with officers and workers, to normalize the area swiftly.

¶ 10 Do not try to convert this disaster into a political dividend against the Government. I conclude with that appeal. Thank you very much.