The Hon. W.H.M. Dharmasena

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I am glad to speak on the Expenditure Head of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation. Let me first remember those who died and were affected by the current disaster situation. The Hon. Minister of Irrigation now has a great responsibility.

¶ 02 At present, in my Moneragala District, Siyambalanduwa and Kongaspitiya are submerged; roads are blocked and there is a major disaster. In Buttala DS Division, due to the Kumbukkan Oya spilling, a pedestrian bridge connecting Pahalgama GN Division with Kontaletiya GN Division has been washed away. In Okkampitiya GN Division, people are trapped in several locations by floodwaters. The Divisional Secretary says arrangements are being made to provide food and necessities. I ask the Hon. Minister to check if this is happening.

¶ 03 The A4 Colombo–Moneragala–Ampara road is submerged at Kumbukkan and traffic is fully halted. The Kumbukkan Oya anicut—within the Okkampitiya project—is close to collapse; one side has eroded. Though water has slightly receded now, rain is resuming. If the anicut breaches, the entire Okkampitiya project could be destroyed. Please urgently alert the Irrigation Department. I have already spoken to the engineers and Divisional Secretary to strengthen it with sandbags. If waters rise, it will be a problem; I have never seen such a flood in Kumbukkan Oya. If this worsens, sandbag reinforcements will be insufficient. Please act immediately.

¶ 04 This morning we discussed the disaster with the President, who said immediate steps will be taken to provide relief. He also said compensation for affected farmlands and people will be paid quickly based on reports by Grama Niladharis and Agricultural Research and Production Assistants.

¶ 05 However, when the country needs 10,400 Agricultural Research and Production Assistants, there are only about 4,062. In Moneragala, where 293 are needed, there is a shortage of 116. Still, when gathering reports from them, please allow reports to be taken from officers covering vacant ranges and expedite payments.

¶ 06 On lands, for 30–40 years many have farmed without permits. Farmers lack awareness and officers do not inform them well. Please expedite issuing land permits—at least annual permits or those under the Land Development Ordinance—and hold land kachcheris to reduce disputes. Otherwise, cases pile up at DS offices, and people go to Police and courts. Regularizing permits will ease this.

¶ 07 Under the “Urumaya” program during President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tenure, existing Jayabhumi and Swarnabhumi documents were taken to be converted, but many permits now sit at DS offices, Lands Department, or even at the Presidential Secretariat. If you cannot quickly issue Urumaya deeds, please promptly return the taken permits and documents to the landholders. Ultimately, however, the lasting solution is to implement systematic issuance of proper deeds (sinnakkara) to reduce congestion and disputes at DS offices. Please do so urgently.

¶ 08 Hon. Presiding Member, I have only two minutes left.

¶ 09 On livestock: Traditionally our area had cattle owners with 400–500 head, now reduced to 40–100. No government ever implemented a program to provide pasture lands. I respectfully request a program to allocate pasture: utilize the broad, shrub-like margins (reservoir reservation lands) around tanks that lack large trees, and also portions of Forest Department lands that are open shrub, for pasture. Your Government allocated Rs. 2,500 million in 2025 to increase milk production, and Rs. 1,000 million this year. Please use these funds for a plan to protect dairy farmers. Some officers may say stall-fed dairy is better—but in our areas, traditional pasture-based systems with available lands can yield more income, including through selling male cattle. Please implement a program to protect dairy farmers.

¶ 10 Finally, under the Kumbukkan Oya project, the Nakkala anicut is now in danger, close to collapse. To protect it and solve water issues, we must expedite the Kumbukkan Oya (Nakkala anicut) project started under President Maithripala Sirisena. If started quickly, disaster-prone areas can be reduced.

¶ 11 Hon. Presiding Member, time is up.

¶ 12 Please give me a short time.

¶ 13 If this project is commenced, potable water needs of five DS divisions—Buttala, Badalkumbura, Moneragala, Madulla and Siyambalanduwa—can be met 100%. Therefore, please expedite the Kumbukkan Oya / Nakkala anicut project. Thank you for the opportunity, Hon. Presiding Member.