Parliament

Postal Department to introduce track and trace system -Minister Kumarathunga

Sandasen MARASINGHE, Irangika RANGE and Disna MUDALIGE

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when Parliament met at 9.30 a.m. yesterday. After the presentation of papers and Oral questions the Committee Stage of the Budget 2010 debate commenced.

The votes on Health, Indigenous Medicine, Social Services, Child Development and Women's Affairs and Mass Media and Communication were debated from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe (UNP): Today we address the issue of curtailing money allocations for the welfare of the people. I do not have the necessary information required to carry on this debate today. I have a doubt that these were not given purposely.

The Government has been unable to provide security for the UN office (Interruption).

Indigenous Medicine Deputy Minister Pandu Bandaranayake: Today we see that even the Opposition Leader has nothing to talk with regard this matter.

About Rs 302 million has been allocated to develop the Borella hospital.

Rs 8 million has been allocated for the development of the Yakkala hospital. Therefore, we have come forward to work for the advancement of the traditional indigenous medicine of the country. We have identified the areas that should be concerned. The expansion of Medicinal Plant Cultivation is given attention. Valuable types of herbs and medicines that have not been discovered will be given consideration. The 'Siddhayurveda' medical system will be given more attention.

We hope to carry on our work in the best manner with the support of other Ministries. Today, we have been able to include the North and East to our development activities.

We hope to launch a new website, so that any one interested in indigenous medicine could obtain the necessary information.

We hope to name 2010 as an Ayurvedic Year. Necessary allocations are made for the improvement of traditional medicine.

Dr Jayalath Jayawardana (UNP): We are not given the progress report of the Health Ministry. It is a deprivation of the rights of this Parliament.

Maithreepala Sirisena (Health Minister): I accept the complaint: The print version has been delayed. We will take the necessary measures to distribute it by tomorrow.

Dr Jayalath Jayawardana (UNP): Today, international organizations are providing a large sum of aid to our country. But the country has soured its relationship with organizations such as WHO and UNICEF. Does the Government reject the aid given by them?

The good name of this country is tarnished with the international community. The representatives of the country behave irresponsibly. I oppose the establishment of a national health policy.

Ven Ellawala Medananda Thera (JHU): Today, I was referred to in the Media as showing my allegiance to the President.

I believe that all countrymen should be like that. He was the leader who defeated terrorism without bowing down to foreign pressure. It was an act that was thought to be impossible.

The behaviour of Ban-ki-Moon should not be generalized as the idea of the whole UN. The present leadership has the courage and strength to work independently without bending down before International Forces and imperialists.

When the country experiences large scale development naturally the salaries of the people will gradually rise. When real development happens more jobs will be created and the prices of goods will decrease. Therefore, a budget should be aimed at the general development of the country.

The traditional local medical system is not just the ayurvedic system. It is just one. The indigenous medical system has valuable elements. They are hardly recorded in books. At a time when more attention is paid to traditional medicine, I suggest that proper research be done about them.

Vijitha Herath (DNA): Freedom of the media is considered as a measurement of democracy in the country.

During the period of war, there were frequent threats to journalists. But now the war has ended. The Government cannot repeat the earlier comment that incidents like these are natural during a war situation.

The international community is interfering to our internal matters, because we ourselves have not been able to safeguard democracy in the country. We are unable to protect the rights of the people in our country.

Today, the media does not have the freedom of expression.

Jayalath Jayawardana (UNP): I raise a point of order.

I suggest that the Secretary of the Health Ministry be produced before the committee since he failed to provide the progress report to this Parliament.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe (UNP): We are unable to analyses, if we are not given the progress report. So this should be inquired into.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa: I do not think that he should be summoned here. A thing like that has not happened before and there is no necessity to do so.

Gamini Jayawickrema Perera (UNP): Today if a patient goes to a dispensary he has to have at least Rs. 5,000. The cost of living is too high today.

When we consider the malnutrition rate it is 50 percent in North and East, while the rate is 30 percent in the rest of the country.

Today journalist Eknaligoda has disappeared.

Posts and Telecommunications Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga: During this short period I talk of the posts and telecommunications field and its development. The money order system used for 130 years has been modernized with modern technology. We have bought the software from the Moratuwa University.

Yesterday we opened a museum for the Postal Department. It contains the equipment and stamps used by the Postal Department during the last 208 years.

The museum will be beneficial to the schoolchildren and local and foreign tourists.

We have taken steps to introduce the track and trace system to find out the whereabouts of the goods sent by the post, by the Postal Department.

Now we have introduced SL post e-paid to help people pay their water and electricity bills without any hassle. The required training has been given to officers in each post office.

As the North and East are now liberated from terrorism the service of the Postal Department is provided there. But there are deficiencies in those areas in respect of the post and telecommunication sector and we would fulfill those shortcomings.

We have already laid the optical fibres to bridge the North and East with the South. Within the next few months we would be able to make use of this service.

Sivashakthi Anandan (TNA): Today the people in Vavuniya, Mulaitivu, Mannar, Kilinochchi etc are suffering from mental ailments. Those people are psychologically or mentally affected. Those patients come to the hospital for a headache or some other ailment but the doctors have revealed they have those symptoms as they are psychologically affected. There should be psychiatrists assigned to those hospitals.

The hospitals should conduct counselling programs as well.

Deputy Speaker Priyankara Jayaratne takes the Chair.

Indigenous Medicine Minister Piyasena Gamage: There is a very significant feature in this budget that would be decisive for indigenous medicine in Sri Lanka.

That is the Government's decision that the Health Ministry should work closely with the Indigenous Medicine Ministry.

This measure would help popularise indigenous medicine overseas.

There are still a large percentage of our population in the rural areas that would depend on a decoction prescribed by a indigenous doctor without visiting a doctor at a Government hospital. So it will be a great saving of money for the Government.

Making indigenous medicine popular would reduce Government expenditure and it also help the tourism industry.

We have to initiate a program to cultivate herbs used for indigenous medicine. We will declare an indigenous medicine week within the next few months. We have programs to encourage the private sector in production of indigenous medicinal drugs.

Although there are an abundance of medicinal herbs in Sri Lanka the regrettable fact is that we spend much money for the importation of these herbs. So we have established mechanism to collect these medicinal herbs.

Gayantha Karunatilake (UNP): It is a very unfortunate situation that journalists and media personnel were abducted by some people in white vans. But no investigations were initiated. Now we have a new Media Minister. So I hope he would be capable of creating true media freedom. Although much promises were given to the media personnel nothing is given to them so far.

S. P. Rajathurai (UPFA): In the Nuwara Eliya district, the hospitals don't have an adequate number of doctors, nurses and rest of the staff. Most of the hospitals have midwives. They should be provided nurse's training courses as there are not enough number of nurses.

Another problem faced by the patients in Nuwara Eliya is that those hospitals do not have sufficient quantities of medicine. Most of the hospitals do not have ambulances.

Chandrani Bandara (UNP): We cannot accept the anti-media campaigns taking place under present Government which is known as a media friendly Government. Though there are a number of pledges included in Mahinda Chinthana Program all have become fairy tales now. I would like to ask the Government what promise they had fulfilled behalf of the journalists. All state owned media institutions are being maintained with the tax payers money. These institutions are not the Government's property. So they should provide true and balanced information to the people. Most children are suffering from malnutrition. Pregnant and lactating mothers suffer from anaemia. Therefore, the Government should implement a national program to alleviate anaemia and malnutrition in this country.

Social Services Minister Felix Perera: We have to pay maximum attention to implement a national program for vaccine delivery, social mobilization and training of health workers. A national program has been organised to eradicate Polio and leprosy. The private sector institutions have granted huge amounts of money to eradicate disease and we must utilise this allocation in a effective manner. We have to look into the needs of elderly people. We are implementing many community based programs to fulfil their requirements. Rs. 300 million has been allocated to conduct rehabilitation programs.

It is essential to improve the mental health of the people. We will formulate a program to issue medical cards to elderly people. So they can be easily treated when they visit doctors. The rights of the disabled people should be ensured while giving them due recognition in society.

Ashoka Abeysekara (UNP): The Government should allocate sufficient amounts of funds to provide best health facilities to the people. But the funds allocated through this budget for the health sector is not enough.

Medical officers and administrative officers who are working on an acting basis in hospitals should be confirmed on their post to provide the best service to patients.

Ruwan Wijewardene (UNP): The people of Gampaha elected me to Parliament by giving me a massive mandate. They placed their confidence in me I will ensure their rights to the best of my ability. Today foreign investors have no faith in the policies of the Government and they are leaving the country.

With the withdrawal of the GSP Plus scheme, many Garment factories in the Biyagama Free Trade Zone have been closed down.

The media plays a major role in the country. The Government should ensure the rights of journalists. It should not put any pressure on media institutions.

Journalists should have the freedom of expressing their views independently. You cannot obstruct the expression of ideas of Journalists Sri Lanka has been ranked as a country which has poor media freedom. Many Journalists have been murdered or abducted.

We want the Government to safeguard the fundamental rights of the people.

Sriyani Wijewickrama (UPFA): My electorate, Ampara is full of historical sites and is very scenic. I would like to express my gratitude to the people of Ampara who elected me to Parliament. The Ampara District Provides a rich harvest of paddy, grains, fruits, vegetables and dairy products to the entire country. The district was battered by the brutal 30 year old war, the time has come now to develop the area by providing maximum facilities to the people. The area can also be developed as a main tourist hub.

Upeksha Swarnamali (UNP): The deprivation of my privileges as an actress, due to my political preference perused me to select politics.

The President must take measures to protect the rights of the artistes in this country. The women in this country contribute a lot to development and it is them that provide life to our motherland. The poverty in this country continues to be high.

Malani Fonseka (UPFA): As an artist representing Parliament, I must request all to get together to rebuild our nation, after 30 years of destructive war.

We should not allow external powers to win by letting them to interrupt into our matters.

I request that the cinema of this country should be improved as a major source of income. The President seems to be doing his best to improve this industry. This is clear by the relief and benefits given to us from this budget. I believe that Cinema can be upgraded as a section that gives prominent contributions to GDP. Not only the cinema industry, but many other industries can also be improved to this status.

I admit that this budget is not the icing on the cake, but it has an underlined meaning. We will be able to see its results in 2011. Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandrakumar Murugesu takes the chair.

Mahinda Amaraweera (Health Deputy Minister): Dr Jayalath Jayawardana as usual talked with hatred towards this Ministry. Specially, the Presidential Workforce appointed to combat dengue was criticized by him. This was appointed by understanding the gravity of the issue. It should be praised, rather than criticized.

Even we have taken necessary actions regarding the Rubella immunization.

We have allocated a considerable sum of money for the distribution of medicines.

The Opposition also raised an issue of a deficiency of Thalesaemia medicines. This was totally wrong and misleading. There is no truth on this report.

Today, we must emphasis on the prevention of illnesses, rather than the distribution of medicines and exportation of them.

A.H.M. Azwar (UPFA): I raise a point of order. Except two solitary members of the Opposition, there is no responsible member representing the Opposition in the gallery at the moment. This was brought on to the notice of the Speaker.

S. Yogeshwaran (TNA): There is a lack of ambulances in the North and only a handful of minor staff is working in these hospitals. There is also a lack of nurses in these hospitals.

Even though the money is allocated, that money is not given to these hospitals. The authorities should look whether this money is distributed or not as well.

In some hospitals, there is a very severe shortage of doctors. Please take measures to provide adequate doctors to these hospitals.

H.M.M. Harees (UNP): There are severe shortcomings in Government hospitals. Time to time, shortages of various medicines are reported and it is the innocent people who become victims as a result.

During the recent past, the distribution of medicines was irregular.

One of the challenges we face today is the dengue fever. Still the situation is not under control and I request the Health Minister to look into this matter. Some think that the dengue is spreading as a result of illegal constructions. But this is not true.

Ajith P. Perera (UNP): Practical action is not been taken to secure the rights of the women. There is a guestion to which degree the justice is received by them. Today the number of females coming into the administration of the country has decreased. At least, there should be 50 percent of representation of females in Parliament, Local Governments and Provincial Councils. For that, laws and regulations should be amended to encourage them.

Child Development and Women's Affairs Deputy Minister M.L.M. Hisbullah: According to the Mahinda Chintanaya Idiri Dakma policy, necessary initiatives have been proposed to safeguard the rights of women.

During the war period many widows emerged. The number of widows have increased considerably in the North.

We are establishing the necessary institutions to help women in selected areas. The Ministry plans to start self employment for the women.

We have also inquired into the matters of children. We have started programs to reduce malnutrition among children.

The distribution of milk for the children to reduce malnutrition is being carried on successfully.

We are also establishing student committees islandwide. In that way, we hope to build a network of students. In the international conferences about children, Sri Lanka was praised for its work to upgrade the conditions of the children.

Iran Wcirakarathne (UNP): We cannot say that our country has free educations since it is being gradually deteriorated.

We spend more money for defence than health. This is a tragic situation. ?The basic facilities for tests are not provided in the hospitals. There is inefficiency in hospitals. The MRC scanner in the Colombo Hospital is used only for a limited number of hours, whereas it could be used for about 20 hours per day.

There should be emergency service in all government hospitals. We have a good Health Minister. The deficiency of medicine has been reduced to a considerable extent.

Anoma Gamage (UNP): The money allocated for the health sector this time is Rs. 773 million. This is not enough in anyway.

It is the women who contribute largely to the development of the country. They earn a lot of foreign exchange.

I request the government to arrange a proper program for unemployed women who have obtained the university education.

Rosy Senanayake (UNP): Human Resource is the most valuable asset in a country. The health sector is of paramount importance considering this valuable asset.

The Government has no project to explore the life condition of the people. Most regrettable fact is that 29.4 percent of children below five years of age are suffering from malnutrition. It means one of three children are suffering from malnutrition. Another factor is that 16.2 percent of pregnant mothers are suffering from iron deficiency.

Although the Government says that per capita income is US $2,053 in Sri Lanka, 41.6 percent of population is around Rs 7,000 a month. Their needs should be addressed urgently.

Pots and Telecommunication Deputy Minister Duminda Dissanayake: Most of the members criticised our Ministry maybe as we are providing a good service. Today our Ministry has 645 main post offices and 3,410 sub-offices.

The Eastern Province people complain that our services are late. But we have taken all measures to streamline the service. Now we have started to open a network of these post offices using computer technology.

Now most of the main post offices are in the network and the next phase is to link all the sub-post offices into the network. Another matter is that we have introduced the e-money ordering. At the same moment when you sent the money order the recipient can obtain it from wherever in the country. There are many other facilities to be introduced. Once such facility is that enabling to settle the electricity bills and water bills.

Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa: At this moment, the Opposition Leader, General Sarath Fonseka, some representatives from Norway are holding a meeting in this Parliamentary Complex. That is harmful to this country. We cannot allow that.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandrakumar Murugesan: It is not a point of order.

Palitha Thewarapperuma (UNP): As I am talking about the health sector, I like to draw the attention to Kalutara General Hospital. That hospital has no adequate facilities at all. I was taken to the Nagoda Hospital from the prison authorities. It is pathetic to note that a single bed is given to two patients.

Tissa Karaliyadda (Child Development and Women's Affairs Minister): The Opposition questioned as to whether there wasn't a female member to be appointed as Minister of Women's Affairs. But I like to question from the Opposition is there anybody who known about women other than man.

Earlier, we could not go to the North and East. But after President Mahinda Rajapaksa's measures to eliminate terrorism today we are able to travel to the North and East.

To the great relief of the Tamil people today, their children are living with their parents as family units. Today we setting up pre-schools with the support of the Pan Sri Lanka organisation.

Dayasiri Jayasekara (UNP): Yesterday a group supporting the Government led a protest before the UN Office in Sri Lanka. Is it the stance of the Government?

Wimal Weerawansa (Construction Engineering Services Housing and Common Amenities Minister): We are not moved by the statement of those bankrupt politicians who are paid by foreign organisations. Are you not ashamed to do so?

Wasantha Aluvihare (UNP): There are many unresolved health issues in the health sector. The Government does not address them. The Health Minister took over the Polonnaruwa Hospital. They do such things while decentralising powers.

Sri Ranga (UNP): Women in the estate sector are not given their due place. They are in very poor health.

Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella: The JVP says the Government has created a threatening environment in the media field. I would like to ask them, who created such a situation during the terror period of 88/89. A number of journalists were killed many others disappeared. The JVP has no right to talk about media freedom we have a doubt of recognizing the real journalist today. Most journalists work on political agendas. All media institutions should work towards the betterment of the country. Some private media institutions are engaged in mud slinging.

This situation should be controlled. Otherwise it will damage people’s image. Journalists should be responsible when they report news. You said State media institutions have been collapsed. It is a totally lie. The SLBC receives advertisements worth Rs 583 million. Circulation of Lake House newspapers have been increased.

H.M.M. Haris (SLMC)

The Kalmunai Ashraff Memorial Hospital was constructed to recall the memory of A.H.M. Ashraff it has been neglected. It is operational with lack of facilities.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena: The budget has allocated Rs. 75 billion for the health sector. The people who are unable to afford private hospital services enjoy free health facilities.

The Government has eased the medicine shortage from hospitals. The shortage of doctors has also addressed. The Government will promote preventive care in rural areas. Between 300-350 persons die everyday due to non-communicable diseases. Most of them were of heart attacks, diabetes and high blood pressure. Consumption of liquor and smoking have increased the number of patients. The Government has launched several awareness programs to free the people from such unhealthy habits.

Gayantha Karunathileke (UNP): Consumers have to bear high prices of essential commodities. The people have been affected by high prices of petrol and diesel. There should be a plan to make the petroleum Corporation into a profitable venture.

The Government can provide domestic gas cylinders for the public at low rates by reducing taxes. There is no justifiable reason to increase oil prices since fuel prices are steady in the world market.

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama: Plans are afoot to increase Sri Lanka Transport Board buses up to 6,000. The total bus fleet is only 4,800. The Government will convert the SLTB into a profit-making organisation. Today the SLTB earns Rs. 42 million daily. With the implementation of new plans, daily income will increase . If we can eliminate frauds and corruption in the SLTB, income can be increased. The Government will import spare parts for SLTB buses directly from producers in India. This move will eliminate malpractices and save money.

The SLTB spends nearly Rs. 136,000 to issue season tickets. Though it is a burden for the SLTB, we will continue this since it is a social responsibility. The Railway Department has 50 power sets. Forty power sets out of 50 are operational.

The Railway Department will deploy 33 new power sets to the upcountry railway line. We are constructing the northern railway line from Vavuniya to Palai under the assistance of the Indian Government.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake (DNA): Recently a luxurious train from Katunayaka to Colombo was started. I would like to ask what has happened to it? The government started a city liner bus service. Now it was stopped. What happened to the money allocated for this project? The Railway Department is running at a loss. Many irregularities continue within the department.

Petroleum Industries Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardana: The IIFA train was introduced for the benefit of tourists.

This ministry should be a strong ministry. This was separated into three sections during the UNP regime.

The transportation of oil from the port to Sapugaskanda is one of the problems. The pipes used for this are damaged due to giving these lands for the people to live. Therefore a certain percentage of oil is being wasted.

Transport Deputy Minister Rohana Dissanayake: We have not spent the Government money for the tree planting campaign conducted the by railway department.

Today, the railway department and the SLTB have joined with the private sector to improve passenger transport sector.

About 4,500 SLTB buses are contributing to the national transportation. The Government has increased the railway compartments to 58 within two months. We work as one group to improve the transportation of the country.

Irrigation and Water Resources Management Deputy Minister S.M. Chandrasena: Due to war we could not maintain properly the irrigation system in the North and East. We had to reconstruct the destroyed irrigational properties.

We are entitled to a considerable degree of duties under this Ministry including supplying water for cultivation in the North and East. We have started measures to develop water facilities in the Mannar district. We need to use each and every water drop for agriculture purposes.

Sivasakthi Annamalai (TNA): There are tanks is the North that should be reconstructed to be made used. About Rs. 300 million in required to reconstruct tanks and streams in Vavuniya.

Water should be provided for agriculture purposes. We request the Government to a accelerate the work of Moragahakanda reservoir. In resettled areas, conditions are very poor, and they have no proper transport system. They are facing difficulties.

Water Supply and Drainage Deputy Minister Nirupama Rajapaksa: I am very happy to work with a senior Minister as Dinesh Gunewardena. The demand for water supply has increased rapidly during the past few years. There are some irrigational projects to be concluded in December.

Many more irrigational projects are being carried out by the Ministry. We have received feasibility study report for a large scale irrigational project in Matara. The Water Supply Board is running at a loss. The age-old pipes in the ground are damaged and water leaks through them.

Disaster Management Deputy Minister W.B. Ekanayake: The Government has to spend a large sum of money to develop war affected areas. We have to work hand in hand with regional administrative levels.

Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Deputy Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna: I listened to the speech of Anura Kumara Dissanayaka. I had to express my sympathy towards him. He just expressed his hatred towards Minister Dullas Alahapperuma. He did not speak any thing about transport or roads. We invite him to participate in the Consultative Committee to present his problems.

Power and Energy Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara: There is a program to supply electricity for all. We are happy that there is a Minister who has knowledge about the field and we believe that he will very soon settle major problems in the sector.

We have started many projects in the North and East. Within two more years Electricity will be provided for every household. The Electricity Board will be converted to profit making institution and various programs are initiated in this regard.

Disaster Management Minister A.H.M. Fowzie: Small and medium scale entrepreneurs in North are encouraged and we will achieve economic development through them.

The Disaster Management Ministry has made a national disaster management policy. We also initiated a program to clean canals in the city. We have to prepare for severe floods and many more disasters in the future. Measures should be taken to mitigate these disasters.

Patali Champika Ranawaka (Power and Energy Minister): We have triple E-Concept generating power. That is Energy, Economy and Environment. After 2012, the electricity price would be reduced. The ministry will reform the Ceylon Electricity Board and make it a profitable institution. The Government would provide electricity for 85 percent of the country. We have practical problem of providing electricity to remote areas. But the Government has planned to provide electricity to 100 percent by 2015. There are very few who cannot afford to obtain electricity and the Government will provide them a loan to get electricity. We can use wind power to generate electricity to add to the national grid. The ministry is conducting research for potential forces to generate electricity such as sea waves and solar power.

Joan Amarathunga (UNP): When the rain falls Gampaha District is affected by the flood. This has been caused blocking the brooks and streamlets. A large number of people are living there and most houses were inundated. The Government provided a lot of dry rations and it is appreciable.

Disaster Management Minister A. H. M. Fowzie: Under the guidance of Minister Basil Rajapaksa, a plan has implemented. The plan will solve the problem of flooding in the Gampaha district.

Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha: Gayantha Karunatilake talked of the Ceylon Electricity Board. But the UNP attempted to sell one third of the CEB that was owned by the Treasury. At that stage, the Government was taken over by us and we cancelled the decision. We have taken measures to expand the oil refinery. Its feasibility study is completed.

The land acquisition has to be done. We have granted salary hikes to the workers in the CPC.

We have completed the construction of a petrol station in Kilinochchi. Another one will be completed next week. An oil stores complex is being constructed in Vavuniya.

Ravi Karunanayake: When the prices of a barrel of crude oil was increased to US $ 147 at the world market, the government sold a petrol litre at Rs. 150. Today the price of crude oil has reduced to US $ 75.

Ajith Kumara (DNA): After the tsunami tragedy, various constructions were erected by the Government and private institutions. Most houses constructed were not upto the standards. The people living in these houses are deprived of basic facilities. Illegal constructions either side of the railway line in Maradana are, a major problem.

Irrigation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva: Many land which have been abandoned for past few decades is being cultivated after the war. The paddy harvest has been increased by 75 percent.

Ninety-two percent of the Deduru Oya construction work has been completed. This will vastly benefit the farmers in the North Central Province. The Rambakan Oya project is being reconstructed. We are engaged in massive irrigational expansion projects across the country. New 70,000 acres of paddy lands have been brought under cultivation in the giant tank area in Mannar.

The Uma Oya Project initiated at a cost of US $529 million will provide water to cultivate 5,000 acres of paddy. The paddy production has been increased upto 300,000 metric tons in Mahaweli Regions.

We have addressed the problems of local farmers through this Budget.

Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardene: Water is an essential factor to sustain lives of humans, plants and animals.

A number of drinking water projects have been commenced islandwide. The Lunawa area will not be flooded hereafter due to the Lunawa drainage project.

Many water supply projects in Vavuniya, Jaffna and Mannar have been undertaken by the Government.

The newly resettled people have been provided with drinking water facilities in the North and East. We have been completed a 300 drinking water projects.

Harin Fernando (UNP): Late President R. Premadasa launched a project to construct one million houses across the country. He was able to achieve his target by constructing nearly 800,000 houses until he died. The program benefited the poor.

Minister Wimal Weerawansa has a responsibility to solve housing problem of the people. Only 74,000 houses have been constructed so far though there are demand for 155,000 houses in the North.

Resettlement Deputy Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan: The resettlement process is being implemented rapidly. The people who have not resettled yet will be sent to their original lands after the de-mining process.

Education, water supply, electricity, health facilities are also being improved. We supplied dry ration to the resettlers. Allowance of Rs. 25,000 have been granted them initially.

S. Vino (TNA): The people in the North have many challenges. Specially the fishermen have no equipment and facilities. The permission for fishing in these areas is given even though after some delay. We happy about it.

In some areas in Mannar, some are still not resettled. They have been living in different camps. For 21 years, they could not go to their own villages.

Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Deputy Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna: From the experience of working with the officials in the Ministry and other institutions under it, I have understood that we have a great capacity to participate in the development of this country.

In the housing sector, the work has been made efficient.

The housing problem in the past is different to the problems of the contemporary days. The life standards of the people have improved and their needs have increased.

We have a history in the construction field. There are buildings and other constructions which are hundred years old. We must take into consideration these facts.

Nurdeen Masoor (TNA): Earlier TNA members were not invited to any discussions regarding resettlement. But the things have changed today. We are happy about that.

The things are being improved in the North. But during the resettlement process, our supporters are not given houses.

The infrastructure facilities such as water facility are not given to some of these areas.

Deputy Speaker Priyankara Jayaratne takes the Chair

Uvais Farook (UPFA): The President possesses a great wisdom and he carried out a marvellous work, while combating with the terrorism. No one can deny that fact. I think the opening of Puttalam and Mannar road is a landmark that greatly helps the resettlement process.

The requirements of the people in these areas are very high. This is a burden on the Government.

The Government works hard to improve infrastructure of these people. But the Opposition is criticising us blindly. The Opposition should give their support for good works done by the Government.

There is a program to establish 50,000 houses in the North. The agricultural equipment and paddy eggs were distributed among people in these areas.

Ajith Kumara (UNP): We see the Government has restricted people in another form of terrorism as same as that was defeated. Even though the Budget allocates Rs 7,500 millions for resettlement, the Ministry is given only Rs 1,000 million.

Resettlement Minister Milroy Fernando: We have done a lot within the last two months. I must thank the Presidential Task Force for helping us in his task. All are working with dedication to accelerate the resettlement process.

Some mentioned that there are no schools for the displaced children. But I am glad to say that all students who are in the age of attending schools in the Menik Farm are being given transport to attend schools. We have taken all the possible steps to give them facilities.

Milroy Fernando (continues): We have to solve the problems of the fisherfolk. It was in 1985 the LTTEers chased away the Muslim people. The Tamil people were also chased away. The fisherfolk in Mullaitivu area lived harmoniously.

Jayalath Jayawardane (UNP): Organisations attached to the United Nations assist us in resettlement drive immensely.

Construction Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa: A six year program will commence in 2011 to provide a house for those who don’t possess one.

The Government has decided to allocate Rs. 5,000 million for this purpose.

The JVP alleged that the allocation made for housing this year is lesser than of 2009. Truth is otherwise. It is necessary to study deep into realize the reality it is not sufficient to have a glance at numbers.

Disaster Management Act to be amended

Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister A.H.M. Fowzie told Parliament yesterday that the extant Disaster Management Act would be amended in near future so that the Government would make new efforts in the prevention and mitigation of natural disasters. The new Bill is being prepared now, the Minister said.

He also stressed the need to set up a new fund to meet the needs in a disaster situation.

Minister Fowzie said that Sri Lanka is prone to natural disasters such as cyclones, floods and landslides due to the impact of climate change. He said that his Ministry was able to renovate the Mihinthale Maha Seya which was damaged recently. Lightning conductors and other safeguard measures had been established at the sacred site to avoid the repetition of such disasters. He said the Ministry had spend Rs. 306 million for this project.