The Hon. K. Kader Masthan

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.

¶ 02 Hon. Speaker, under Standing Order 27(2), I wish to raise the following regarding vehicles provided to welfare centres for displaced persons and pose some questions.

¶ 03 From about three decades of conflict until 2009, all communities suffered immensely. The North and East continue to struggle to recover; many were displaced internally and abroad, and some still live away from their own lands. While many have been resettled, their basic needs often remain unmet. It is deeply troubling that, in the name of these affected people, there have been abuses of authority and plunder of state assets. I believe it is my duty to expose such corruption. Vehicles donated by foreign donors or procured by ministries for resettlement and welfare centres have disappeared from official records.

¶ 04 My questions are:

¶ 05 1. What vehicles were provided to the Menik Farm welfare centre in the Vavuniya Vengalacheddikulam DS Division and to other welfare centres? After those centres were closed, to which state institutions were those vehicles returned? Please provide vehicle numbers, dates of handover, the receiving institutions, and responsible officers.

¶ 06 2. A 2014 census by the Ministry of Resettlement covered 56 vehicles, and again in 2019, based on complaint No. 70/09/2019, details were collected through ministries and via letters dated 2019.05.29 to local authorities. Please provide, separately, the number of vehicles duly returned to state institutions and those untraced.

¶ 07 3. The Mannar Pradeshiya Sabha Secretary had officially informed that none of the sought vehicles was with the Sabha. However, among 30 untraced vehicles, the tractor bearing WPRB-2639 was seized by Talaimannar Police on 2019.04.19 while illegally transporting cattle, and Case No. 50558 was filed in the Mannar Court. Preliminary police investigations indicate that this state-owned tractor was being used in an estate belonging to a politician. Was any government authorization obtained to hand over this tractor to a private individual?

¶ 08 4. After police seized the tractor, the then Chairman of the Mannar Pradeshiya Sabha informed the Ministry that it belonged to the Sabha. However, letters signed by several then PS members indicate that both the tractor and its unregistered trailer were stolen property and not the Sabha’s assets, and they requested legal action against the Chairman, sending copies to the Northern Governor, the Ministry Secretary, and the Local Government Commissioner. What action was taken?

¶ 09 5. Had the police conducted proper investigations at the time of seizure into the driver and companions, there would have been a chance to recover other stolen vehicles. What action has been taken against politicians or officials who obstructed proper police investigation, and against those who supported large-scale corruption?

¶ 10 6. Based on these facts, will the Government reopen investigations and take action under the Offences Against Public Property Act and the Anti-Corruption Act against all involved in the illegal use of public assets and bring them before the law?