The Hon. E.M. Basnayaka

¶ 01 Madam Presiding Member, at a time we strive to realize the national programme of building “a prosperous country and a beautiful life,” it is very important to discuss the Appropriation Head of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation. I am pleased to participate in this debate and thank you for the opportunity.

¶ 02 Before engaging this Head during Committee Stage, I must briefly refer to the Opposition. The present Opposition has become one that is born in the past, lives in the past and dies in the past. A very scientific Budget has been prepared to build the country, and during this debate on a key Ministry—as in other debates—I have not seen the Opposition present constructive or logical proposals. Instead, as always, they oppose by habit, sling mud by habit, and lie by habit.

¶ 03 When our Government is working, we expect the Opposition’s support to build the country. Day by day, it becomes clear you are living in the past with archaic attitudes. Beyond expressing regret, there is little more to say.

¶ 04 The Ministry under debate is extremely important. After birth, a human’s next essential need is food and drink. This is the Ministry responsible for providing that. The Ministry has nine Departments, ten Statutory Boards and State Institutions, seven self-financing institutions and two other State bodies—a vast apparatus spread across the country, impacting everyone’s lives. Our duty is to ensure production of food for future generations, ensure safe consumption and safeguard supplies.

¶ 05 A fundamental factor here is land—the foundation of our sectors. Across Sri Lanka, a large extent belongs to the Land Reform Commission. We have already completed surveys of 28,000 plots, and about 78,000 plots remain to be surveyed. According to information we have, about 3,160 hectares are available for allocation to projects. Looking at these figures, one must ask: over history, were these efficiently used for people’s benefit? The evidence suggests they were not.

¶ 06 I urge our Agriculture Minister, comrade Lal Kantha, to prepare an expedited programme to put these lands to productive use for enterprises and industries to serve future generations’ needs.

¶ 07 Regarding land rights and distribution, in the past lands were diverted to personal gain of powerful ministers—allocating hundreds of acres to cronies. Lands under State institutions were grabbed by politicians. Our National People’s Power Government, in building a prosperous country and a beautiful life, is preparing to use these limited lands most productively. For example, in Ududumbara, lands around the Transport Board property were gradually grabbed by successive politicians. Under the “Urumaya” programme, a coordinating secretary of a powerful politician in Kandy even tried to include several perches within the depot area in his name at the surveying stage—showing how Opposition politicians grabbed State assets.

¶ 08 In Ududumbara there is also Hasalaka Wewa. A former MP, Tissa Attanayake, claimed to clear silt with millions of rupees, but instead mined gems from the reservoir. Those who enabled such acts now advise us on productive land use.

¶ 09 Another issue is crop depredation by wildlife. Of the harvest we produce, it is estimated 35–40% is consumed or damaged by animals—elephants, monkeys, porcupines, wild boar, deer, sambur and more. Our Agriculture Minister discussed measures in his first speech; now that dialogue is advancing productively. While some mock our efforts to count animal populations with modern technology, we must base measures on data. The Kandy District Coordinating Committee Chairman—our Minister—has appointed a special committee involving the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Police, Navy and other agencies to formulate a programme before major projects commence. There had been delays in appointing a project lead; now the Peradeniya University Veterinary Professor Dangalla has taken charge, signed off and submitted for Ministry approval. With approval, a successful, scientific process will proceed; meanwhile, interim measures are being discussed. We believe that by the end of five years, many of the fundamental issues affecting our people’s lives can be resolved. Thank you for the time.