Infrastructure

Hon. Uthumalebbe raised two concerns regarding agricultural infrastructure in the Ampara District. First, expressing dissatisfaction with a previous response, he reiterated his question about whether dryers could be installed at Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) stores in Ampara. Second, he highlighted that incomplete drainage schemes — specifically the Sambukalappu–Periyakalappu and Karaivagupattu schemes — have left approximately 11,500 acres of paddy lands across multiple areas in the district chronically inundated. He noted that Ministry-level Consultative Committee meetings on Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation had previously resolved to convene a special meeting at the Parliamentary complex involving Ampara District MPs and senior irrigation officials, but that this decision had not been acted upon, and he called on the Deputy Minister to arrange for that meeting to be held.

## Summary Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe submitted Written Question No. 1302/2025 to the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation regarding flood damage sustained in 2022 to the Deegavapi–Alankulam agricultural road and the Wellakkal Thottam low-water crossing within the Akkaraipattu Divisional Irrigation Engineer's administrative division. The question references a specific departmental letter (DI/AM/WG/AP/002/2022, dated 28 November 2022) in which the Director General of Irrigation directed the Ampara District Irrigation Director to prepare an assessment report for renovation, with a recommendation to include the works in the Irrigation Department's 2023 Development Plan. The member seeks confirmation of whether the assessment report was received, the date of its receipt, and what concrete steps have since been taken toward renovation of the damaged infrastructure.

Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala informed Parliament that the government has addressed police accommodation issues, particularly around Colombo, by purchasing a 352-unit housing complex from the Urban Development Authority for Rs. 4,100 million with Cabinet approval. He further noted that efforts are underway to expand and improve barracks and facilities at police stations across the country, with accommodation in relevant police areas arranged whenever transfers take place.

Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody addressed questions about the Trincomalee oil storage tanks and the Norochcholai power plant. He stated that refurbishment of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation's 24 tanks is underway — with two completed and two in progress — and that the pipeline system is also being fully repaired, asserting that storage operations will only commence once this work is finished. He attributed the reduction in the number of tanks to the previous government's sale of the remaining tanks to India, and indicated that any environmental concerns at Norochcholai would be addressed by the relevant authorities in due course.

Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody responded to a parliamentary question regarding generators at the Norochcholai (Lakvijaya) Power Plant. He clarified that no generators were purchased for this purpose; however, two generator sets donated by the Chinese Government in 2015 — originally received by the Ministry of Disaster Management and subsequently transferred to the plant — are available. The Minister noted that the plant's cooling system normally draws auxiliary power from its own generating units or the national grid, and that engineers, together with the plant's construction company and design entity, are currently conducting tests to assess the feasibility of using the donated generators to power the cooling system during a total grid blackout, with necessary modifications to follow.

## Summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa, responding on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, provided a detailed ministerial answer regarding tourist destination development in the Puttalam District. The response identified 27 tourist sites in the district spanning religious, archaeological, wildlife, and coastal attractions, and confirmed that tourism development is not confined to a few locations but is being pursued nationwide. Key current initiatives include the North Western Province Tourism Master Plan (commenced 2025, due for completion 2026), a Rs. 55 million beach park project at Halawatha, road infrastructure improvements in Kalpitiya, and the deployment of 30 tourist guides specifically for the district. Proposed future projects include ADB-funded infrastructure development in the Kalpitiya kitesurfing zone, floating jetties for coral park access, development of the Eluvankulama entrance to Wilpattu National Park, and a proposal to declare Gangewadiya as a formal tourism zone.

Hon. Ajith Gihan posed a written question to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism regarding the underdevelopment of tourism in the Puttalam District. The member highlighted that tourist attractions in Sri Lanka are concentrated in only a few regions and that no programme has been established to develop Puttalam's tourism potential. He requested information on which tourist destinations have been identified in the district and what steps the government intends to take to develop the area as a tourist destination.

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).

Hon. T.K. Jayasundara proposed the establishment of a district-level coordinating mechanism in Galle, to be led by the District Coordinating Committee Chairman and Secretary, that would meet regularly to identify and discuss areas requiring archaeological evaluation. The speaker asked whether any legal barriers exist to forming such a committee, framing the proposal as a means of advancing archaeological work at the district level.

The speaker addresses a supplementary question regarding a construction project, clarifying that the initial estimate was Rs. 37.188 million — not Rs. 65 million as suggested — funded jointly by the National Local Loans and Development Fund and the Municipal Council. The speaker explains that costs escalated progressively due to a mid-project decision to expand from a two-storey to a four-storey building, followed by further increases caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and price escalations during the previous administration, ultimately reaching approximately Rs. 70 million without completion. The current administration has allocated an additional Rs. 30 million to complete the project, though the speaker declines to provide a specific completion date, citing uncontrollable factors. The speaker also notes procedural irregularities, including additions made without Procurement Committee approval.