The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera

¶ 01 This situation exists in other districts as well, but it is most prevalent in the Kegalle District. At that time, a group of scholars from the University of Peradeniya came and gave us a set of recommendations. Hon. Minister, the main recommendation was to adopt sterilization of these animals as an inevitable solution. That was the first point. They also proposed relocating the animals to other suitable areas. This task entails significant costs, which is why continuous implementation has often not taken place. However, considering the crop damage caused by these animals, even if some costs are incurred, it is worthwhile. I ask the present Government to carry out this work rather than just conducting surveys and enumerations.

¶ 02 I saw in yesterday’s “Aruna” newspaper that about 100 million coconuts are lost annually due to monkeys. Likewise, other cultivations are also affected. Overall, the losses amount to billions of rupees. Hon. Minister, even if the Government bears some expenditure, at minimum, please implement a program where Rs. 500–1,000 is paid per monkey captured, and establish the necessary procedures and facilities to catch and house them. Otherwise, nothing will happen. We cannot resort to culling, Hon. Minister, because environmental organizations and others will oppose it. Even if sterilization is costly, from a long-term perspective the losses will be less. No one has undertaken this task—neither in our government’s time nor under the previous government. It has only been talked about. Without doing this, the agricultural uplift and home-gardening programs you expect to implement will never materialize.

¶ 03 Hon. Minister, though time is short, I must also speak on land issues, a core subject of your Ministry. With respect to deed issuance, many unresolved matters remain to this day. There are lands under conservation, and large tracts designated as environmentally sensitive under the Land Reforms Commission (LRC). In the Yatiyantota Electoral Division I represent—Deraniyagala and Kegalle—and in other areas as well, such lands exist. But there is no clear program to protect them. Recently, we saw that, using tourism as a pretext, there were processes that effectively grabbed scenic, environmentally valuable lands; this also happened under the previous government, with various political interferences.

¶ 04 I request you to implement a program to protect environmentally sensitive lands. Let us identify those lands and zones. Hon. Minister, laws exist enabling the LRC to allocate lands at its discretion; certain protective provisions under environmental laws also exist. Within their legal powers, allocations can be made without significant barriers. Therefore, identify these lands, gazette them, and ensure they cannot be tampered with. We must preserve them for future generations. I urge your urgent attention.

¶ 05 There are also lands belonging to the Janatha Estates Development Board (JEDB). For example, in the Yatiyantota Electoral Division, the Nagastenna, Kandal Oya Estate. Please note this. Hon. Minister, that estate comprises 1,001 acres. During the colonial period it was cultivated entirely with Ensal (ensete). Later, cultivation was abandoned and the area has now become good forest—genuinely environmentally friendly. However, the JEDB faces no legal obstacle to leasing or otherwise disposing of it if they wish. I ask you to look into this land too. Even if it has nominally been under other entities, under the 1972 law the Land Reforms Commission is the ultimate legal owner. Therefore, you have the ability to intervene. If you look into the portion recorded as “Yakdessa” within the Nagastenna, Kandal Oya Estate, you can inquire into it accordingly.

¶ 06 Hon. Minister, I must also raise a very important issue highlighted by Hon. Kabir Hashim relating to the Yatiyantota Electoral Division. I believe this proposal was presented in 2016. The late Hon. Mangala Samaraweera recommended, through the 2016 program, several reservoirs: one is the Wee Oya Reservoir; another is the Yatiyantota Reservoir; also Holombuwa; and in the upper area of Deraniyagala—four reservoirs in total. The project, with World Bank support, was proposed to minimize environmental harm, control flooding, provide drinking water to Colombo, and as a development initiative. It has been more than eight years since this proposal, Hon. Minister. I participated in several discussions under different governments—along with Hon. Kabir Hashim and other ministers. Yet there remains a serious question whether the project is being implemented. If the Wee Oya Reservoir proceeds, about 300–400 families will be relocated. Awareness programs were conducted, but the people are still uncertain whether the project will go ahead.

¶ 07 We have heard that a politician from your own party has said, “We will not allow this to be implemented.” Perhaps this is politics ahead of local government elections—we don’t know. We remember that when we were in power, during the local government election cycle, some ministers said similar things and leveraged it for electoral advantage. People suspect the same is happening now. Hon. Deputy Chairperson, therefore, please clarify decisively whether this will be implemented or not. We have no objection. The people, though with difficulty, consented to move this project forward.