The Hon. Rohana Bandara

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, “May timely rains fall, the harvest be abundant, may there be peace, and may the Government do righteous deeds...” Today, our people are in a major struggle with nature and adverse weather. Many lives have been lost. We express our condolences to those families. Many have been displaced. Led by the President, we are working to extend necessary assistance. We will provide the facilities people need.

¶ 02 At this debate on the Heads of a vital, powerful Ministry, I wish to begin with a statement by the Minister himself: he said farmers must begin cultivation knowing the market. That is a good statement with sound content. But, Hon. Minister, you and I know Anuradhapura. You know farmers’ conditions. In our Anuradhapura, farmers do act based on market knowledge—but how do they learn it? If the price of their harvest falls at Dambulla in a given season, and another crop is high, they switch next season. If brinjal fetched a better price, they plant brinjal next. Then, next season, the brinjal price collapses. You understand the issue, but the solutions are not yet in place.

¶ 03 You say we should not eat only what we grow but grow what we eat; however, if we do not grow, do we expect to import and take commissions? We must stop that and become systematic.

¶ 04 We always lean on fertilizer subsidies. You say you have given fertilizer subsidies to 90 percent—shock and top claims. But farmers say the lists are partial, benefits have not fully reached them, and even what’s given is in small portions. We are grappling with fertilizer, too.

¶ 05 Once fertilizer is done, we talk about paddy purchasing. You say funds are allocated, and money is set aside for dryers. When will Treasury release those funds? Where will these machines go, where will they be installed, and how exactly will farmers be empowered? Do you have a plan? In the last Maha season, how much did you allocate for paddy purchasing, and how much did you actually buy? Millers bought at higher prices then, but in Yala, private traders did not extend that relief. You managed to buy some quantity—was that process fair? Did you buy directly from farmers, or via intermediaries and commission agents? In practice, was justice served to farmers? Your conscience knows. Every Government tries, but the outcomes matter.

¶ 06 You spoke clearly and attractively about agriculture, as if problems are over. Yet we saw our own Minister going to the CID to lodge a complaint; now the CID is probing why he was called. Hon. Minister, tomorrow you might be called too. Do not create situations where farmers feel compelled to call you in distress. Historically, innocent farmers suffered greatly. When seeking one solution, ten more problems arise. Let us truly understand what it takes to solve these issues—not just fertilizer subsidies and paddy purchasing. We must help farmers increase output of the right varieties, in the right quantities.

¶ 07 You say paddy yields increased, yet we imported Keeri Samba. What happened to Keeri Samba in the last Maha? During transplanting (naadu) time, the price dropped, because Keeri Samba is grown mainly in Maha. Did you have a special program to purchase Keeri Samba in Maha? In Yala, we generally cultivate short-duration varieties; thus Yala yields are higher, but we lose the other varieties.

¶ 08 Do not claim that Yala’s bumper harvest was due to your prowess. We were blessed by nature. If you can control nature, prove it now by handling this calamity. The Yala bumper harvest came because rains arrived at the right time, and our tanks even had surplus—an unprecedented situation in Yala. Do not mark that as your achievement; it was a blessing that protected our paddy farmers.

¶ 09 We speak often about major crops like paddy and chillies, but there are vegetables too. We spend over Rs. 1,000 billion importing crops that can be grown locally. We lack a plan. You talk about a digital economy and digitization. Why can’t we build a structure—one organization or cooperative per crop—divide the land suitably, test soils, assign the right crops to the right soils, form societies to grow those crops, and channel daily consumption needs through economic centres like Dambulla or dedicated hubs? Then we can solve the seed issue as well. When too large a lot hits the market in a single day, prices crash. We must prevent that. If farmers know the day’s demand and supply, they can adjust acreage accordingly and keep the rest for seed.

¶ 10 Without a systematic plan, no matter what you say, it is futile. Empower farmers to conquer the market. Merely hanging onto rice issues, paddy issues and fertilizer subsidies will not deliver justice. We request a proper, planned approach, and we are ready to support it.

¶ 11 On irrigation: Hon. Minister, you often say, “Nuwara Wewa is my tank,” because your home fence abuts it and you see it daily. But when you pointed the way to Dudley and created a stir about Parakrama Samudra, who suffered? The residents around Nuwara Wewa in Anuradhapura. Over 900 families are now in turmoil. Their land values have crashed; they have become refugees and destitute. You did not work there, nor regularize land. With political motives to punish some, you took decisions. Based on an officer’s opinion, politicians claimed land beyond their boundary; people ended up beyond the defined line—inside the reservoir—unable to fill their land. With the 88.5-metre reservation now enforced, people find themselves within it, becoming refugees on their own land. Those who bought land with money and deeds are treated like encroachers by the reserve authorities. You have turned “Urumaya” (Heritage) into “Karumaya” (Calamity). Whether it is Urumaya, Himikama (Ownership), Jaya Bhumi or Swarna Bhumi is now irrelevant. Grant these people their land rights and let them live freely.

¶ 12 If you feel Nuwara Wewa is “your tank,” we are glad you have that sentiment; it shows your Anuradhapura roots. But those around the tank are your own supporters, even your MPs reside there. When acting, deliver justice. Do not evict them. Apply one consistent criterion over time. Now there is talk of changing the reservation to 90.5 metres—how many more will then be affected? Arrive at a proper standard. From one side, protect people’s title; from the other, avoid unnecessary acquisition. If it is “your tank,” “your land,” and a place you know, deliver justice. Those people are helpless. Lands there are of high value for Anuradhapura’s development. Devise a plan that delivers justice to residents, enables us to build tourism, and protects farmers cultivating those lands.

¶ 13 Let us put politics aside and act humanely. Our district needs development and farmers’ needs must be met. Do justice to those around Nuwara Wewa. Forget punishing politicians within the reserve and provide a fair, independent solution; safeguard the deeds those people hold.

¶ 14 Also, instead of issuing deeds under “Urumaya,” you have now politically renamed it “Himikama.” No issue—do it under Himikama. The Government already holds many deeds, but many landholders have no proper documents—only duplicates or photocopies. Therefore, under Himikama or with a proper “Title” instrument, please issue authentic deeds. With that reminder, I conclude. Thank you.