PARLIAMENT

Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake,— To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House —

(i) whether he is aware that there are lands coming under the purview of the Irrigation Department located in the vicinity of Deduru Oya of the Yapahuwa kingdom;

(ii) whether expeditious measures will be taken to renovate the holiday resorts built on the lands concerned which are now falling into disrepair;

(iii) whether the Irrigation Department has a course of action to provide sanitary facilities to the area concerned since local tourists make use of the area for recreational purposes and nevertheless no sanitary facilities are available;

(iv) whether the Irrigation Department has a plan to improve the conditions of the Ridibendi Ella anicut area together with the holiday resorts in order to attract local and foreign tourists; and

(v) whether steps will be taken to overcome the obstacles to agricultural activities owing to poor drainage of irrigated water, due to existence of several irregular constructions in the aforesaid area?

(b) If not, why?