The Hon. Aravinda Senarath - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today we are debating, at Committee Stage of the 2026 Budget, the Heads of Expenditure of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation. The entire country’s attention is on the prevailing disaster situation. According to the latest information, a strong cyclonic storm is expected to impact us in a few hours, and there is a serious flood situation developing. This is a time we must extend greater support to those suffering and in distress. With that reminder, I will speak to the Budget Heads.

¶ 02 Since morning, Opposition Members have presented proposals and allegations. Some proposals are reasonable. Some are driven by their frustration at having been unable to do historically what we are now implementing in a planned, orderly manner. Among the allegations was that no development is taken to the North and that people there are treated with ethnonationalist bias. We must state clearly: not only in agriculture, but in all our conduct as a Government, we do not practice racism, nor do we target any community for special favour or discrimination. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation is working to take Mahaweli waters to the North.

¶ 03 Hon. Members raised various district issues. An Hon. Member raised a land problem in Vavuniya. After speaking with the District Secretary, we learned that the lands have been submitted for surveying, and thereafter the necessary steps to resolve the matter are being taken. We stand ready to intervene to resolve it.

¶ 04 Similarly, regarding 3,771 acres in Mullaitivu District, the District Secretary informed that lands are being identified, cleared and released. Many such matters and allegations were raised. Some Members also said the Government has no visible plan for disaster management during these floods. One Member may not see it if he sleeps through it. But if one keeps eyes open and understands the process, it is visible. Two to three months ago, at District Coordinating Committee meetings, we instructed officers to be prepared for floods and landslides and to make specific plans. Funds have been allocated to every district for disaster management. As a first step, officers in every district are intervening with utmost dedication. If some in the Opposition cannot see this process, we say: wake up and look. As a second step, the President addressed the matter today.

¶ 05 About seven million citizens are engaged in agriculture, and around 27 percent of employed persons are in this sector. After decades, we now have a Ministry that has identified these problems and can resolve them.

¶ 06 If the Opposition wishes to understand our course, note that we have scientifically reorganized this Ministry—bringing together agencies like the Department of Agrarian Development, the Mahaweli Authority, etc.—to deliver land and water to the farmer and to develop the livestock sector. This is the first step in the agricultural renaissance we intend. Budget allocations reflect that priority. When transforming from a subsistence agriculture to a production economy, we have provided the necessary financial resources to agriculture. We have placed the greatest emphasis on this Ministry: Rs. 6,203 million for the Department of Agrarian Development, Rs. 13 billion for the Ministry of Lands, and Rs. 91,000 million—i.e., Rs. 91 billion—for the Department of Irrigation. Altogether, about Rs. 267 billion has been allocated. Without money, there can be no plans. We have identified the problems and the answers, and are creating the facilities to deliver those answers.

¶ 07 We are a political movement that has struggled alongside farmers and advocated an agro-industrial renaissance. We took office in 2025 and practically had about five months to implement development projects; after the Appropriation Act was passed and funds flowed after May, we began implementation. But 2026 will be different: from 1 January 2026, we can commence projects. Funds have been allocated under a well-planned, orderly program.

¶ 08 On land, previous Governments lacked a concrete plan. We spoke about the 76-year curse. That was not a trivial accusation. Any Government must manage and resolve these issues; failing to do so allowed crises to grow, for which they must be accountable.

¶ 09 We have the Land Reform Commission (LRC), begun with good intentions. Yet during the eras when the Opposition’s elders and their dynasties governed, they could not even survey and clear the lands first acquired in 1972. Nor did they institute proper procedures for lands released thereafter. A massive crisis ensued; lands were distributed at whim. Recently, we acted on this. Some officials have colluded to release lands improperly—even to the deceased. Not only officials; politicians too. We are now reviewing whether some officials should continue in service. Why? Because as a country we must clear these problems.

¶ 10 On issuing land deeds: land holds deep cultural value within our family unit and society. But as society changed, the deed issuance system did not adapt. Politicians issued deeds and permits to suit themselves, often favouring their associates while neglecting ordinary people. Recently, “Urumaya” (Heritage) was launched as a deed program—purely a political target aiming to issue two million deeds for a presidential election—without studying the land’s actual capacity. It had shortcomings. Therefore, we have regularized it, submitted a Cabinet Paper, and from 2026 we will issue new deeds under “Himikama” (Ownership). We plan to issue about 75,000 deeds in 2026 to those seeking ownership. We are resolving people’s problems systematically.

¶ 11 The Department of Agrarian Development has been in severe crisis due to human resource constraints. Shortly after we assumed office, we initiated recruitment of new officers, allocated funds and brought in technology. Using modern technology to identify land parcels, we believe we can reach an annual target of about 20 million plots by 2026. We have planned to clear these issues step by step.

¶ 12 The Department of Irrigation bears the greatest responsibility for farmers. No matter how much land or seed we provide, or what technology officers carry, if irrigation is not delivered, we fail. We are restructuring the Department of Irrigation methodically and providing the core resources needed to establish a complete irrigation system. We have built confidence among farmers that the Government will deliver.