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Fragmentation of coconut lands discussed in PS

by Kuliyapitiya group correspondent

Kuliyapitiya Pradeshiya Sabha at its monthly meeting presided over by the Chairman Sarath Dayawansa Narasinghe (UNP) passed 30 estimates to the value of Rs. 988,700 to be completed within the month of December. The Chairman requested the members to submit extra proposals if any before December 16th so that they too could be commenced soon.

He also said that the PS Chairman's Conference had requested the authorities to increase the remuneration of the Members to Rs. 5000 from Rs. 3,095.

The Vice Chairman Mahinda Pushpakumara (UNP) raising a point or order said that he had given notice of a questionnaire about the fragmentation of the coconut lands. The reply he received was incomplete. The question and answers should be reported in the minutes. The questions were asked again.

The Chairman said, you can get the answers if you come to the office on Monday.

The Vice Chairman said, the answers should be in the minutes, then only they are valid. I as the Asst. Secretary of the "Wayamba Kapruka Surakeeme Sanvidhanaya" want those particulars to have a discussion with the Minister of Plantation Industries. I have come to know that the fertile coconut lands are fragmented contrary to the by-laws of the Wayamba PC enacted on the subject. There are provisions in the by-laws to take action against the so called property developers in case they block out lands contrary to the by-laws. But no offender was taken to the courts by this Sabha so far.

Y.M. Senaratna (PA) said, the question arises why the law is not enforced against such offenders who block out coconut lands without an authority from the Sabha.

Manoj Premaratna (PA) said, according to the guidelines laid by the Coconut Cultivation Board no land in this area could be blocked out. All are fertile. We want to protect the coconut plantations as that is the foundation of Wayamba economy.

Sampath Ketawelagedara (PA) said, fragmentation of coconut lands would bankrupt not only Wayamba but also the entire country if we happened to import coconuts.

Sirisena Herath (PA) said, this is a national issue. According to the statistics 10,000 coconut trees are felled annually due to the fragmentation of lands. If one tree bears 10 nuts, the nation would be deprived of 6 lakhs of coconuts per year. That would be a very grave situation in time to come.

Dharmasiri Dissanayake (UNP) said, the members speak as if the fragmentation of coconut lands is done only in Kuliyapitiya PS area. The land sale business is going on uninterruptedly in every PS area in the coconut triangle.

M.M.A. Premaratna (UNP) said, the coconut lands are fragmented to provide the lands for the landless to build their houses. The housing problem in the area is very acute. As the people need lands to build houses there is nothing wrong in fragmenting lands. If kapruka is protected the people would have no lands to put up their houses. The Sabha also gets an income from this. An unnecessary issue was raised at the meeting and precious time wasted.

Wickremasinghe Banneheka (UNP) said, the coconut tree is our kapruka. We have to raise a voice against the destroying the kapruka by way of fragmentation of lands. That is our duty and responsibility as the people's representatives.

The Vice Chairman Mahinda Pushpakumara (UNP) said, the Member Premaratna is ignorant of the adversity of the destruction the property developers commit by way of fragmentation of coconut lands. We have realised the future danger on that. The "Kapruka Surakeeme Sanvidhanaya" was organised to prevent such a disaster. If we keep quiet considering the income the Sabha gets we would commit a treachery for the nation as we would have no coconuts even for our consumption. This is not a matter of rupees and cents but a national issue.

The Chairman said, I am also against the fragmentation of coconut lands. I never give authority to block out fertile coconut lands.

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