Compensation was awarded this morning (Could 27) beneath the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to farmers who had been unable to domesticate their lands between 2019 and 2022 as a consequence of flooding attributable to the salinity barrier within the Nilwala River. The occasion was held on the Malimbada Pradeshiya Sabha Auditorium in Matara.
The salinity barrier, constructed in 2019, induced steady harm to agricultural lands in a number of areas of the Matara District, together with Kamburupitiya, Kekanadura, Malimbada, Wilpita, Madiha and Thalalla.
Though earlier governments failed to supply a correct resolution to the difficulty, the current Authorities allotted Rs. 1.2 billion within the 2026 Price range to compensate the affected farmers. Accordingly, compensation is being paid for seven consecutive cultivation seasons, from the 2019 Yala season to the 2022 Yala season.
All farmers who had duly reported crop harm to Agrarian Service Centres through the related cultivation seasons are eligible for compensation. Funds are to be made in respect of 12,800 acres of uncultivated farmland.
Compensation was symbolically awarded at the moment to 250 farmers by the President, whereas funds to all eligible farmers are anticipated to be accomplished inside the subsequent 14 days.
Addressing the gathering, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the nation has now established a powerful economic system based on self-discipline and accountable governance, enabling the Authorities to supply the very best compensation funds within the nation’s historical past throughout occasions of hardship.
He pressured that the Authorities’s coverage is to supply compensation inside a brief interval each time harm happens. On the similar time, he famous that the Authorities has initiated programmes not solely to deal with the speedy considerations confronted by the general public, but additionally to steadily strengthen their financial situations and combine them into the nationwide economic system.
The President additional identified that Rs. 90 billion has been allotted beneath the Ministry of Industries to supply loans to small-scale entrepreneurs, whereas Rs. 25 billion has been allotted for the 2026 “Praja Shakthi” programme geared toward strengthening rural economies.
Highlighting the progress achieved in a number of key financial indicators after a long time, the President said that financial development needs to be measured not solely by knowledge, but additionally by enhancements within the individuals’s high quality of life.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake additionally said that the general public has no want to take away a authorities that is still accountable to the individuals, including that solely thieves, fraudsters and drug traffickers dream of doing so.
He additional alleged that these going through corruption and fraud fees earlier than the courts had been making an attempt to unfold falsehoods out of concern, however famous that the current Authorities continues to maneuver ahead whereas gaining growing public confidence.
The President additionally expressed his appreciation to the workers of the Matara District Secretariat, the Division of Agrarian Growth, the Division of Agriculture, and the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance coverage Board for his or her dedication in implementing the compensation programme.
He additional said that the Authorities has deliberate a wide-ranging improvement programme for the Matara District, together with everlasting options to the Matara flood challenge and measures to supply steady revenue sources and improved dwelling requirements for economically deprived communities.
Emphasising that training is a very powerful pathway to bettering individuals’s lives, the President famous that the Authorities has already launched a broad training reform programme, together with the modernisation of colleges islandwide and the institution of fifty vocational coaching centres.
Talking on the occasion, Business and Entrepreneurship Growth Minister Sunil Handunnetti mentioned:
“We promised through the election marketing campaign that we’d carry an finish to the Nilwala tragedy. There are a number of points concerned, together with flooding and the lack of farmers to domesticate as a result of salinity barrier. Even earlier than coming to energy, the coordination committee was repeatedly confronted with the grievances of affected farmers.
“In the present day, these beneficiaries aren’t solely receiving compensation, however a panel of consultants has additionally been appointed to establish sustainable options to the issues related to the Nilwala River.
By the tip of this 12 months, feasibility research can be accomplished and the mandatory steps can be taken to completely resolve the salinity barrier challenge. Rs. 500 million has been allotted for this objective.
“As well as, Rs. 1.2 billion has been allotted to compensate farmers who suffered crop losses over a number of cultivation seasons from 2019 to 2022. Earlier than coming to energy, we protested for years demanding compensation for these farmers. In the present day, we’re capable of present compensation with out requiring individuals to protest.
“Some farmers are receiving compensation amounting to just about Rs. 2.9 million. We have now allotted a considerable sum of money for these farming communities. We plan to finish all compensation funds by 18 June this 12 months.
“Some individuals claimed that larger compensation may very well be obtained by protests, whereas others urged farmers to reject this compensation. Nonetheless, as a substitute of asking you to protest, we protested in your behalf and ensured that this compensation was granted. The officers current right here can bear witness to that. We understood your struggling and your difficulties very effectively. Sure people additionally claimed that accepting this compensation would lead to farmers dropping possession of their lands. That’s utterly false.”
Parliamentarian Professor L. M. Abeywickrama additionally addressed the gathering, stating:
In the present day, what you might be receiving is compensation that farmers had been unable to safe throughout earlier administrations regardless of repeated protests and which had virtually reached some extent the place it will by no means be granted. Each time farmers protested, they got false assurances that compensation could be offered and had been then despatched away. By the next cultivation season, they’d as soon as once more endure crop harm, protest once more and obtain yet one more empty promise. This cycle continued for a few years.
Through the earlier administration, there was even a proposal to amass the affected lands after paying full compensation. Nonetheless, we pledged to supply aid to the farming communities in 5 Divisional Secretariat divisions within the decrease Nilwala basin who had been unable to domesticate their lands for seven consecutive seasons, from the 2019 Yala season to the 2022 Yala season.
We held a number of rounds of discussions on this matter beneath the management of the Secretary to the President on the Presidential Secretariat in addition to on the Parliamentary Secretariat. It was by these discussions that we had been capable of make this compensation programme a actuality. This turned potential as a result of collective effort of each the political authorities and public officers. Officers of the Agrarian Service Centres, the Division of Agriculture, the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance coverage Board, representatives of the District Coordination Committees and lots of others labored with nice dedication in direction of this effort.
A committee of consultants has now been appointed to supply a sustainable resolution to the Nilwala salinity barrier challenge, and LKR. 1,000 million has been allotted for this objective. Nonetheless, because the venture can’t be accomplished inside this 12 months, we utilised these funds, along with allocations already put aside for canal and embankment rehabilitation, to revive and clear the canals and waterways linked to the Nilwala River. Because of this, regardless of the heavy rains skilled in latest occasions, we had been capable of minimise flooding in Matara.
Minister of Ladies and Youngster Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Deputy Minister Arkam Ilyas, Southern Province Governor Professor Susiripala Manawadu, Members of Parliament Lal Premanath and Ajantha Gammaddege, together with a number of different public representatives, state officers and representatives of farmers’ organisations, had been additionally current on the occasion.
(President’s Media Division)
