2026-02-19 / Standing Order 27(2) Matter: Mahaweli Development Project and Land Allocation - Procedural Exchanges 2026-02-19
Hon. Rasamanickam raised an urgent matter under Standing Order 27(2) concerning the demographic impact of land allocation under the Mahaweli Development Project in the Northern and Eastern provinces. He argued that successive governments have allocated State lands under Mahaweli settlement schemes without adhering to ethnic ratio requirements mandated by the 13th Amendment (Ninth Schedule, Appendix II), thereby altering the demographic composition of historically Tamil-inhabited areas. He cited recent concerns over the Kivul Oya project in Mullaitivu and Vavuniya Districts and disputes over grazing lands at Mayilathamadu and Maathavanai as specific flashpoints.
The member submitted seven detailed questions to the Ministry, seeking district-wise and ethnicity-disaggregated data on land allocations and beneficiary families since inception, specifics on the Kivul Oya project's settlement plans and selection methodology, the extent to which traditional community lands have been absorbed into Mahaweli zones, the rationale for not releasing 3,000 hectares for local agricultural and grazing use, and details of a proposed new Mahaweli 'CS' Zone. He additionally raised related concerns about human-elephant conflict arising from water scarcity in Mahaweli project areas, flooding caused by earth removal works in Batticaloa, and the exclusion of unregistered farmers from crop insurance schemes.
Hon. Speaker, under Standing Order 27(2), I raise a matter regarding the impact on the demography of the North and East due to land allocation under the Mahaweli Development Project.
For decades, Tamil political representatives and affected local communities have alleged that, under Mahaweli development and settlement schemes, State lands were allocated without maintaining ethnic ratios as required, thereby altering the demographic composition in areas historically inhabited by Tamils and facilitating planned Sinhala settlements by chauvinistic governments. Recently, actions related to the Kivul Oya project in Mullaitivu and Vavuniya Districts, and issues concerning grazing lands like Mayilathamadu and Maathavanai, have heightened public concern over settlement policy and equitable access to resources, including irrigation.
In terms of the 13th Amendment (Appendix II of the Ninth Schedule), ethnic ratios must be considered in State land alienation. Accordingly, please state:
1) District-wise land allocated under Mahaweli on the basis of ethnic ratio, with the breakdown by ethnicity;
2) Since inception, the total extent allocated (in acres) per ethnicity, and the number of beneficiary families by ethnicity;
3) For the Kivul Oya project in the Northern Province: the extent taken from Mahaweli lands, the number of families already settled from the North, the number planned to be settled, and the selection methodology;
4) Of the agricultural and pasture lands previously used by local communities in areas including Mayilathamadu and Maathavanai, what extent has been brought under Mahaweli;
5) We understand 13,000 acres are to be used for Kivul Oya; in that case, what is the issue in releasing 3,000 hectares from Mahaweli ‘EL’ Zone for agriculture and grazing at Mayilathamadu–Maathavanai;
6) We understand a new Mahaweli ‘CS’ Zone is to be created—where, what extent, and for what purpose;
7) What steps has the Ministry taken to prevent displacement or marginalization of local ethnic communities due to land allocation policies?
These are of urgent national importance. In some Mahaweli projects, when water runs dry, elephants migrate and cause human-elephant conflict. In Batticaloa, earth removal for such works has led to flooding, farmers are badly affected, and without timely registration they are told they cannot claim insurance. I raise these in that context.