The Hon. Kabir Hashim

¶ 01 Thank you for the opportunity, Hon. Deputy Chair.

¶ 02 The Hon. Deputy Minister is present. For the counting scheduled on March 15, I was wondering how we will do it on my property with animals jumping about—how to assemble a team and do it properly.

¶ 03 It is important to speak under the Head of Expenditure of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation. The Hon. Minister of Agriculture was here, but is not now. Hon. Deputy Minister, please convey my points to him. I raise a district-specific issue, not a national one. My colleague, Hon. Sujith Sanjaya Perera, who represents my district, is also present. In Yatiyantota and Deraniyagala electorates, there is an issue with Irrigation. The Irrigation Ministry, with World Bank support, planned a multi-phase project for climate disaster mitigation, namely the Yatiyantota Wee Oya Reservoir Development Project.

¶ 04 People around that area suffered large impacts to livelihoods and properties. We have intervened for years and spoke to relevant Ministers, who assured fair compensation with no harm to people. However, when speaking to officials, they do not discuss alternative land or livelihood options for the over 200 families, nor the project’s progress. There can be economic, cultural and social impacts; people are now unstable—unable to cultivate or develop their lands because they do not know whether the lands will be acquired. This is unfair. If the project is done, measures must be taken to minimize impacts. As the World Bank has allocated funds, hold discussions and inform officials on how to proceed. Tell the villagers whether they will get land, alternative livelihoods, and capital for resettlement, and explain the compensation mechanism.

¶ 05 At one point, officials said the JEDB would give them necessary tea-growing lands because most villagers are smallholder tea growers, typically two acres. Giving them random small plots will not help; they need suitable replacement lands.

¶ 06 Now, another issue has arisen. Officials say the project will not proceed this month. Hon. Minister, are you doing this project? If so, when? If not, please inform. People’s lives are in uncertainty.

¶ 07 Thank you.