Hon. M. S. Abthul Wazeeth

Hon. M. S. Abthul Wazeeth raised concerns about the delayed implementation of the i-Road Project in Pottuvil, noting that only three of seven approved roads are currently under construction. He called on the relevant authorities to expedite and complete the remaining four roads, specifically naming the Nooraniya School Road, Gundumadu Road, Kudakalli Road, Absan School Road, Al-Mina School Road, and the JICA Tsunami Road (P/26).

## Summary Hon. M. S. Abthul Wazeeth raised several development and administrative concerns relating to the Pottuvil area of the Ampara District. He requested the establishment of a modern sports ground in Vattiveli, Kalappulattu, or Sarvodaya Puram, the completion and upgrading of existing grounds at Jalaludeen Square, Pasarichenai, and Komari, and the provision or rehabilitation of sports grounds for seven named schools, noting that over 40 sports clubs and 1,000 youth members currently lack adequate facilities. He also called for the urgent appointment of a permanent sports officer to the Pottuvil Divisional Secretariat, the establishment of a Youth Vocational Training Centre, and the equipping of the Sainthamaruthu Youth Training Centre with laptops, a photocopier, and a projector. On agricultural matters, he urged the government to purchase wet paddy at the guaranteed price, as recent rains have prevented farmers from drying paddy, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by private traders offering very low prices. He raised a concern regarding the Eastern Provincial Public Service Commission's 2023/2024 Graduate Teachers examination, where 30 candidates passed and were interviewed in May 2024 but have not received appointments due to a claimed absence of vacancies, tabling related documents. He further called for the resumption of stalled construction works at the Pottuvil Regional Secretariat bus depot, for which approximately Rs. 60 million was allocated and contracted to SDCC in November 2023.

Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth raised a supplementary question regarding the government's ban on winch machines used by shore seine fishers, introduced to protect the coastline and environment. He acknowledged the environmental rationale but highlighted the practical hardship caused to 16 named fishers in the Ampara District, specifically at Jalaldeen Square in Pottuvil and Kudukalveli, who have lost their livelihoods as a result. He noted that without winches, each fishing operation requires hiring 30–50 labourers, creating an unsustainable labour burden. He requested that the government reconsider the ban to allow winch use in a manner that avoids environmental harm while alleviating the labour shortage and economic hardship faced by affected fishers.

Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth raised a supplementary question regarding disaster relief compensation for a specific fisher affected by a disaster in November 2025. He cited the case of M.I. Tasleem of the Jalaldeen Square area, Pottuvil DS Division, whose fibreglass boat, nets, and fishing gear — valued at approximately Rs. 3,560,000 — were lost or damaged, as documented by a police complaint dated 27 November 2025. The member noted that the loss affected approximately 30 families dependent on this fisher's operations. He requested that the Government expeditiously provide compensation to enable the affected fisher to resume his livelihood, and submitted supporting documents to the House.

## Summary Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth directed a written question to the Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources concerning the status and management of fishery buildings in the Pottuvil Divisional Secretary's Division that were renovated following the tsunami. The question seeks clarification on three categories of these buildings: those renovated post-tsunami, those rented, leased, or sold, and those that remain unused. Wazeeth specifically inquired about multi-purpose fishery buildings constructed in Jalaldeen Square and the Kanaker GN Division by the Small-scale Fisheries Federation, requesting details on who oversees their maintenance and revenue collection. He further asked whether the government would repurpose unused buildings for public or government needs, and whether the multi-purpose buildings could be vested with the Pottuvil Pradeshiya Sabha or allocated for public use, with alternative land arrangements made for identified owners through the Pottuvil Divisional Secretariat.