The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe

¶ 01 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

¶ 02 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, I am pleased to speak in the Committee Stage debate on the 2026 allocation for the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development—one of the key ministries.

¶ 03 Our country suffered from war and lacked national income. Through this Ministry, there are good opportunities to generate national income. I thank Hon. Minister Sunil Handunnetti on behalf of the people of Ampara District.

¶ 04 Regarding the Hingurana–Gal Oya (private) company operations in Ampara and the issues faced by cane growers, all Ampara MPs jointly made representations. The Hon. Minister visited Ampara, held a special coordinating meeting, and appointed a special committee under the Ampara District Secretary, Mr. Sindhath Abeywickrama, to report on land allocated to the sugar company and on lands of farmers engaged in cane cultivation. We consider this a historic step for Ampara. I also thank our District Coordinating Committee Chair, Hon. Deputy Minister Vasanta Piyatissa, for his assistance.

¶ 05 After Gotabaya Rajapaksa became President, a major sugar-related fraud occurred—you know of it. He reduced sugar taxes to benefit those who spent for him during the election; they imported sugar sufficient for two years. In that context, I thank the current Minister for the good work in this portfolio.

¶ 06 If the Sugar Corporation’s cane cultivation runs smoothly and profitably, our district’s farmers will not resort to paddy cultivation—Hon. Deputy Minister Piyatissa knows this. But private companies take all their profits, rolling over interest and pushing them back into poverty, creating a mafia. Private companies also take lands where no cane is cultivated, secure bank loans in the landowner’s name, and make those people indebted. We informed you of this.

¶ 07 Following the Hon. Minister’s directions and our District Coordinating Chair’s guidance, the District Secretary—along with relevant Divisional Secretaries, Senior Land Surveyor, and Land Commissioner—collected comprehensive data on: the extent of land under cane; the extent used by the factory; idle land; land under other crops; farmers’ lands and ownership; and land owned by Gal Oya Plantations (Pvt) Ltd. They conducted field inspections using handheld devices in Ampara, Akkaraipattu, Addalaichenai, Sammanthurai, Nintavur, and related divisions. According to the report, Gal Oya Plantations (Pvt) Ltd uses 6,646 hectares. However, government lands were transferred to the Sri Lanka Sugar Board for cane via Gazette No. 156 of 21.03.1975, Gazette No. 580 of 12.10.1989, and 10-170, and 7,465.99 hectares used under the Sugar Board were to be transferred to the Hingurana Sugar Company. Yet only 6,646 hectares were found in the field—an 819-hectare discrepancy.

¶ 08 Within lands allocated to Hingurana, certain plots have been granted licenses or permits to individuals with the condition “for cane cultivation only.” Of the 5,729 hectares cultivated by farmers (5,279 ha with company facilities; 304 ha independently), 224 hectares were recovered from farmers for company cane cultivation. I table the report.

¶ 09 Approximately 70 cases are pending in the Akkaraipattu District Court where Gal Oya Plantations has forcibly taken lands licensed “for cane cultivation only” and claims them as company property. Some farmers hesitate to plant cane; some plant paddy and other crops on allocated lands. Due to delays in harvesting cane, issues such as changes in headmen, storage complications, and related matters arise. Thank you.