The Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake

¶ 01 We will establish the Commercialization Institution and the National Council for Research and Development, and present the relevant legislation to this House in 2026. An allocation of Rs. 1,200 million has been set aside for the National Programme to advance research to commercialization.

¶ 02 Mr. Speaker, if anyone has successfully conducted research and made a discovery, the Government will provide capital support to commercialize it. We also know that not every research effort will succeed in commercialization. But if we engage with ten, we can get successful outcomes in five or six. Some applications will not pan out, yet the Government must support the innovations that arise through fresh research so they can move forward. We have allocated Rs. 1,200 million for that.

¶ 03 8. The “Clean Sri Lanka” continuous programme

¶ 04 As we build a prosperous country and a beautiful life, we proposed in the last Budget to transform our country into a “Clean Sri Lanka.” The Clean Sri Lanka project aims to improve ethical policies, provide a cleaner physical environment and foster an island-wide moral commitment. We reiterate that “Clean Sri Lanka” is not reducible to one booklet or a single project, nor is it an initiative to be judged in a day, a month, or even a few years. It is a large-scale, unending programme that must move forward continuously, constantly incorporating new elements. We are now making this a reality. Through Clean Sri Lanka, we expect the creation of a clean society in every aspect, not just the environment. This unceasing programme extends to realizing the lofty aspiration of a country clean of thuggery, clean of the underworld, clean of bribery and corruption, clean of corrupt politicians intoxicated with power, a country with an efficient public service instead of an inefficient one, and a country that respects the law and the rule of law—in sum, a clean country in every respect.

¶ 05 We have introduced “Clean Sri Lanka” as a programme free from partisan divides, with which all can agree, to make our country a standards-based, dignified nation. For this programme, Rs. 6,500 million has been allocated to carry out its tasks in 2026.

¶ 06 9. The “Nation as One” national operation

¶ 07 Mr. Speaker, we remind this House that the narcotics menace is a very severe epidemic confronting our country and that the reality is even more frightening than we imagine. This drug epidemic is invading the schoolbags of little children who know nothing and is knocking at almost every household door. It is pushing the younger generation into a grave tragedy, and the entire country—directly and indirectly—is suffering intensely and becoming victims of this scourge. This situation sends a dangerous message to every stratum of society. If we are to build a clean and beautiful country, this horrific menace must be decisively ended.

¶ 08 This crisis is entangled with organized crime, those victimized by corruption in services, and political nexus—like intertwined vines that must be untangled one by one. This grave and essential task is not a lonely battle that can be waged by one party or one group. Therefore, we invite the entire country to this national task. Accordingly, we have commenced the “Nation as One” national operation to eradicate drugs from the whole social body. We emphasize that this is a relentless, unceasing programme that will not stop under any challenge until the end.

¶ 09 - To implement comprehensive drug-control programmes covering all necessary facets to advance the vision of the “Nation as One” operation, we propose to allocate Rs. 1,500 million. - To rehabilitate individuals addicted to narcotics, under the Rehabilitation Task Force we propose to establish 10 voluntary rehabilitation centres in locations including Polonnaruwa and Walikanda-Senapura. - The current prison capacity is adequate only for about 11,000 inmates, but more than 35,000 are currently held. To urgently address the need for efficiency in prison services—by expediting projects such as prison expansion and relocation, improving prison infrastructure, referring inmates to community programmes as per existing legal procedures, and utilizing open prison camps—we propose to allocate Rs. 2,000 million. A total of Rs. 2,000 million is allocated for national operations.

¶ 10 10. Support for persons with disabilities

¶ 11 About 1.6 million persons with disabilities, roughly 7% of the total population, live across the country. As a State that has adopted the National Convention on securing the rights of persons with disabilities, the Government bears the responsibility to protect all their rights.

¶ 12 - Through the Aswasuma programme, allocations amounting to Rs. 19,000 million have already been provided to grant a monthly allowance of Rs. 10,000 each to about 140,000 persons with disabilities. - We will revise the existing gazette notifications on accessibility for persons with disabilities to suit current needs and align them with international standards and specifications. - To improve accessibility and sanitation facilities for persons with disabilities at public places such as Divisional Secretariats, railway stations, bus stands, courts, and police stations, we propose to allocate Rs. 1,000 million under this Budget. Although the law exists, this work is not complete even in public institutions. Therefore, we allocate Rs. 1,000 million to complete this work step by step.

¶ 13 We officially reserve 3% of Government service positions for persons with disabilities; however, it is not properly implemented. Therefore, we will ensure that the 3% quota is recruited in all future Government recruitments. Even as we recruit, we will protect this 3% ratio.

¶ 14 To integrate persons with disabilities into the national economy, we propose to incentivize private employers and increase employment by paying a wage subsidy of 50% of the employee’s salary, up to a maximum of Rs. 15,000 per month for 24 months, if they employ a person with disability capable of work. We propose Rs. 500 million for this.

¶ 15 Day-care centres for children with disabilities including autism are being established under the Ministry of Health and the Department of Social Services. For continuity in 2026, Rs. 100 million under the Ministry of Health and Rs. 447 million under the Department of Social Services are allocated. Additionally, we propose Rs. 500 million to further expand and establish new day-care centres.

¶ 16 Education and training

¶ 17 Mr. Speaker, to reduce the cost burden on families for books, equipment, and stationery, and to ensure that every child receives the necessary stationery for education, we will continue in 2026 the Rs. 6,000 stationery grant given to students in 2025. Rs. 9,000 million is allocated under Aswasuma for this.

¶ 18 As education is a fundamental right of all children, we will provide inclusive education to children with disabilities. That is, rather than segregated schooling, we believe the progressive path is to educate children with disabilities in the same settings where other children learn. However, the participation of children with disabilities in education remains very low. To encourage school attendance, we propose Rs. 50 million to grant a monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000 per child to low-income families with children with disabilities, based on medical recommendation.

¶ 19 Although university intake has grown to 43,000 over the past decade, the lack of adequate facilities has created serious issues. Therefore, Rs. 2,500 million has been allocated to improve student hostels, canteens, and common learning spaces.

¶ 20 To resolve the problems created by new medical faculties lacking necessary professor units and laboratory facilities for quality medical education, we have allocated Rs. 11,000 million to develop medical faculties including at Sabaragamuwa, Moratuwa, Ruhuna, Uva Wellassa, and Eastern Universities.