The Hon. Naina Thambi Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, these Regulations under the Motor Traffic Act are timely.

¶ 02 Since this falls under the Hon. Minister of Transport and Highways, I will raise some related matters. In Halawatha, on the Jayabima–Susānabhūmi road, a bridge estimated at Rs. 250 million is 50% complete but works have stalled. The public are pleading compassionately to complete it. Please supervise and expedite.

¶ 03 Likewise, on the Kalpitiya–Muhaththuvaram road, a bridge is being built at a point connecting the sea and lagoon. There are two schools there, a Sinhala medium and a Tamil medium school, and it is a significant tourism location. That bridge too has stalled. Kindly review and take necessary action.

¶ 04 The Karamba–Udappuwa road is about 25 km and is a PRDA road. Flooding has damaged all culverts. This road greatly contributes to the economy; please develop it.

¶ 05 I thank the Hon. President for efforts to upgrade the Puttalam Hospital. There is also a rural Ayurveda hospital in Puttalam serving a large population, but it lacks facilities. The dedicated staff are working hard, yet due to inadequate facilities it should be upgraded at least to a base or district hospital. That would benefit not only Puttalam but the surrounding areas—Anamaduwa, Wanathavilluwa, Karuwalagaswewa, Kalpitiya—where many people rely on indigenous medicine. Please provide required facilities.

¶ 06 A new request: UDA commenced a water supply project for the Kalpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha area, particularly in Madurankuliya, Virukode, Kanamulla and Kadayamatta. The distribution lines have been laid, but people still drink muddy water. This is part of the Iginimitiya water scheme and was started in 2018. Please complete it for the public, free of politics.

¶ 07 On vehicle imports: with the current economic situation, sales are slow and importers are stuck. If a vehicle is not registered within three months, DMT imposes a separate fee. Please extend the registration window from three to six months. Many have taken bank and other loans to import vehicles; establish a workable system.

¶ 08 Sri Lanka has 25 districts. If you examine statistics and plans, Puttalam District is among the worst economically affected. There are farmers; also salt, prawn, fishing and coir industries. These have suffered heavy losses in the district and electorate. We acknowledge relief has been given, but we ask the government to provide facilities to revive and strengthen these industries.

¶ 09 Areas like Puttalam, Karativu and Wanathavilluwa are flooded. The government has taken some measures; please take additional steps promptly to provide relief.

¶ 10 During the cyclone and floods, state officials worked tirelessly: Grama Niladharis, Development Officers, Agricultural Research and Production Assistants, and Samurdhi Officers. They worked late without consideration of time yet received no allowances beyond salary. If some allowance is granted, it will motivate them for the future.

¶ 11 In Kalpitiya yesterday there was severe damage. It’s a large area but there is no permanent Divisional Secretary, only acting; the OIC at Kalpitiya Police is also acting; and the “Nirmala Matha” Sinhala school has no principal. These administrative weaknesses persist. As a government, please inquire and appoint permanent officers—Divisional Secretary, Police OIC, and a competent principal to Nirmala Matha—to support Kalpitiya’s development. I thank all for the time.