Hon. Ravindra Bandara

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, we discuss today under an important topic—the issues faced by the hill country people. As an MP from a hill country area, I thank you for the time.

¶ 02 As stated, we have governed for one year and six months and have intervened to resolve long-pending issues. Those who claimed to represent the hill country betrayed the people while holding power for decades, keeping people in line rooms for 200 years. Now people lack addresses, land, and roads. We accept that housing, land, and roads must be provided.

¶ 03 We resolved the wages issue. We were challenged to increase by Rs. 10; we increased by Rs. 400. Funding allocations have substantially increased. From the Provincial Council: in 2024, Rs. 60 million was allocated for estate infrastructure; in 2025 we increased to Rs. 151 million; in 2026 to Rs. 196 million; and for 2027 estimates Rs. 300 million—fivefold. From the central government for estate infrastructure: Rs. 100 million (2024), Rs. 1,813 million (2025), and similar in 2026.

¶ 04 For those displaced by Cyclone ‘Ditwa’, transitional and permanent housing is underway. Though lack of land titles earlier prevented payment of the Rs. 500,000 grant, the President has decided to provide it as well; a Cabinet paper has been submitted.

¶ 05 We have already identified about 83 hectares of land—both estate and Divisional level—for resettlement. On May Day we saw the change; next month when unions form, you will see further change, including in Badulla—traditional parties lack representation. People are talking with us on how to join.

¶ 06 For PRDA roads in our district: Rs. 750 million (2024), Rs. 2,750 million (2025), and now Rs. 7,000 million. We do not segment people; we have ended such thinking. In the past, politicians sent rosaries and garlands before visiting estates, arriving surrounded by police; now we go ordinarily, with the people, ending segregationist mindsets. Many Tamils migrated to India and elsewhere; in those countries they are not treated separately and do not live in line rooms. Think who kept such conditions here for so long.

¶ 07 In Haputale’s Kabaragala, landslides forced people to occupy an abandoned tea factory; now we are building 50 high-standard houses—near completion—and relocating people from other high-risk areas declared in 2012 but never acted upon. We just laid foundation stones for 35 houses with Government funds, separate from the Indian housing projects. The earlier promise was seven perches per worker; we have raised it to ten perches.

¶ 08 The President and Minister Samanth Vidyaratne have clearly stated all will receive proper addresses; we regret the long delay, but we are acting now. Disturbances arise not from anything else, but because the old politics is collapsing. Your Motion says “we started this, and we want to go in our way.” We say: the work will go on, but not in your old way of sending rosaries and garlands. We will proceed by system.

¶ 09 For those in camps, we are fast-tracking transitional housing; lands are found; projects have begun. Cultural and awareness programmes are conducted in the camps.

¶ 10 On education, Tamil children from our district enter universities in low numbers due to inadequate facilities; we are funding smart classrooms and fast-tracking school infrastructure. We are also combating the spread of illicit liquor (kasippu) in these areas through Public Security Committees and Police; women in particular are grateful. We do not claim 100% elimination, but significant progress has been made.

¶ 11 We are doing what you could not. Please extend your support.