The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity.

¶ 02 Like our Hon. Leader of the House, I too faced the question: how to respond today—whether to answer points raised by the Opposition or frame our broader position. Considering the Opposition’s remarks, I observed two contradictory lines of criticism. On one hand, they say the relief is insufficient and should be increased, covering groups they claim we have missed. On the other hand, some question the very concept of “relief,” alleging we are fostering dependency.

¶ 03 What is our policy? As a Government accountable to the people, social protection and relief are core responsibilities. Citizens may be family members, workers, entrepreneurs—but whoever they are, personal security and stability are fundamental. People must feel their lives are stable, their institutions and Government are trustworthy, and that policy consistency prevails so they can plan their futures and their children’s futures.

¶ 04 Ensuring this is our paramount duty. While doing so, we have had to face the Ditsa natural disaster and an international war. Good governance requires that, under any conditions, we safeguard public well-being through reliable governance and institutional frameworks, understanding we live as a collective—families, communities, a society, and global citizens. Events anywhere—war, deforestation, environmental damage, economic missteps, vaccine disruptions—affect us. Therefore, we cannot act as if isolated; we must plan to face external conditions as well as those within our control.

¶ 05 In both unexpected situations we faced, we acted accordingly. For Ditsa, we allocated Rs. 50 billion rapidly. Before coming to the House, I met Secretaries of 25 Ministries to review, as discussed in the Presidential Task Force yesterday, how that Rs. 50 billion is being disbursed on the ground. While that was ongoing, we had to confront the war situation too. Yesterday, the President presented our social protection measures for that.

¶ 06 Critically, both the Rs. 50 billion for Ditsa and the relief package announced yesterday are designed not to derail our development trajectory. We are meeting the moment without abandoning our course. That is our true test.

¶ 07 We are not printing money to do this. Some boast of having given Rs. 5,000 to everyone in the past; they printed money and drove us into unsustainable debt, forced asset sales, and disrupted international relations. By contrast, our interventions provide relief to those most affected without printing money, without piling unsustainable debt, without selling our assets, and without abandoning our non-aligned foreign policy. While doing so, we are continuing development: repairs to Pettah Central Bus Stand are done; tomorrow we launch Fort Railway Station rehabilitation; education reforms proceed; irrigation systems are being rehabilitated; the Aluth Sahal Mangalya will be held in Anuradhapura; our processions and cultural activities continue; and we are prepared for the New Year’s traditions. Even international peace initiatives are ongoing.

¶ 08 We are managing the situation with prudence. The President’s address and our targeted interventions reflect that. We focus on areas that threaten the economy and people’s livelihoods—agriculture, fisheries, transport—and provide electricity bill relief where necessary, while strengthening everyday life.

¶ 09 Our clear stance is that, whatever the challenge, we strive to maintain the conditions necessary for normal life. We are not shutting down the country to do so; rather, we monitor developments closely, study them, take expert advice, and adjust measures accordingly.

¶ 10 We began by controlling fuel consumption through the QR code, modifying it as needed. We declared Wednesday as a Government holiday to further reduce consumption, and after three weeks we adjusted that decision based on changing conditions. We do not cling rigidly; we adapt based on facts and people’s realities. The President has held numerous meetings—with Government and Opposition groups, and most importantly, with affected communities, including in the hill country—to inform our decisions.

¶ 11 Some in the Opposition ask why we did not foresee every submarine-like threat and every next move. Only those with no practical experience of the world speak like that. From an objective standpoint, this Government’s decisions are marked by good understanding and sensitivity to people’s lives. Our unceasing focus is how to protect our people under any condition—not anyone else’s agenda.

¶ 12 On taxes and relief, some claim there are “taxpayers” and “non-taxpayers.” That is incorrect. Everyone contributes—directly or indirectly—through the tax system. Therefore, social protection is not a favour but a right of citizens. No community is abandoned; all are important to us. Owing to historical reasons, certain groups are especially vulnerable; we rightly give special attention to them within our social protection programmes.

¶ 13 We value the ideas and proposals from all Hon. Members, including the Opposition, when presented for the people’s benefit; we will discuss and consider them. Ultimately, all 225 of us share responsibility, and the people will judge whether each of us—Government and Opposition—has succeeded. Thank you for the time, Hon. Presiding Member.