The Hon. Muhammad Faizal

¶ 01 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Assalamu Alaikum; Ayubowan; Vanakkam!

¶ 02 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, thank you for the opportunity to speak on the Votes of the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government. Through 14,000+ GN divisions, 332 Divisional Secretariats, and 271 Pradeshiya Sabhas, this Ministry can drive development and services. However, in past years, despite allocations, funds were often not properly distributed in line with MPs’ work plans, and lapsed back to the Treasury, impeding economic progress. Even with functioning local and provincial councils before, services through local bodies and DS offices were inadequate. Today, under the NPP Government, even without functioning local/provincial councils, services are reaching people via GN, PS, and DS structures.

¶ 03 At the Minister’s request, this Budget allocates more funds to all regions to serve all. The Ministry receives Rs. 496.5 billion (11.8 percent), to strengthen the public service and local institutions and improve service delivery. The President and the Minister have instructed that allocations be used efficiently for the people.

¶ 04 Local authority boundary delimitation done since 1970 was not always proper; earlier governments adjusted boundaries for partisan reasons. Post-war, Puttalam requires reconsideration due to large-scale in-migration and registrations. In Kalpitiya, where in the 1980s–90s there was mainly coconut production, now fisheries and agriculture have expanded; places like Verutota and Kadayamotai produce chank (conch), and monsoon seasons severely affect those engaged in it. Please provide assistance and guidance to them.

¶ 05 There are also extensive salt-producing areas in Puttalam, but due to past mismanagement and lack of planning, production falters in rainy seasons, forcing imports.

¶ 06 Public servants constitute about 4.8 percent of GDP in salaries, with 1.4 million in 2022. A key service under this Ministry is the Government Translators’ Service, crucial for national cohesion by bridging languages. There is a severe nationwide shortage of Tamil and Sinhala translators, delaying court inquiries and bilingual publication of government documents, hampering state offices. I urge measures to fill translator vacancies.

¶ 07 The Government also plans to provide 30,000 jobs under a recruitment plan to fill essential vacancies across critical state sectors; qualified candidates will be recruited in a timely manner.

¶ 08 As for the Local Government Elections that should have been held in 2022, the previous administration delayed them citing lack of funds. Our NPP Government and the Hon. Minister are now making arrangements to conduct local elections, and we are confident of success and major representation among the 8,355 members to be elected. With these Votes, we will continue delivering services through GN, PS, and DS structures, ensuring proper use of allocations to uplift people and build the nation.