The Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, our National People’s Power Government presented its first Budget. As a Government MP, I wish to highlight several points.

¶ 02 Since 1977 we followed an open economic policy. Up to the election of President Anura Dissanayake last September and within the interim period, those who ran that policy left behind a grave tragedy. The people gave a strong mandate to President Anura Dissanayake and the NPP Government to correct the shattered economy, society, and toxic political culture that sheltered criminals.

¶ 03 It has been five months since the President took office, three months since the Government was formed. This is our first Budget document—one that delivers victories and reliefs to every segment of society and lays the foundation for stabilizing the economy.

¶ 04 This Budget sets 15 key targets and also pays attention to social welfare and infrastructure. It allocates funds to operate ministries efficiently and is sensitive to vulnerable groups. For example, under “Enhancing social protection for orphans and youths,” the Budget provides: - A monthly Rs. 5,000 allowance to children in remand homes and to orphans; Rs. 2,000 to be deposited in the child’s account and Rs. 3,000 to the guardian for expenses.

¶ 05 This nurtures responsible financial behavior and invests in the child’s future.

¶ 06 Unlike previous Budgets that gave with one hand and took with the other through heavy taxation, this Budget grants genuine reliefs to public and private sector workers, plantation communities, pensioners and vulnerable groups, without imposing new burdens, selling State assets, or plunging the country deeper into debt.

¶ 07 As a long-time trade unionist, I know workers demanded strengthening basic pay rather than allowances. We are stabilizing the minimum basic salary and keeping the established 1:4 progression ratio. Examples: - Unskilled worker basic from Rs. 24,250 to Rs. 40,000. - Skilled worker basic from Rs. 25,790 (Mar 2025) to Rs. 42,780 (Apr 2025). - Management Assistant basic from Rs. 27,140 to Rs. 45,230. - Development sector (e.g., Development Officers) entry from Rs. 31,490 to Rs. 53,060. - Graduate trained teachers from Rs. 34,160 to Rs. 57,860.

¶ 08 Crucially, we increased annual salary increments across grades by about 80 percent: - Unskilled increment from Rs. 250 to Rs. 450, - Skilled from Rs. 270 to Rs. 490, - MA Grade II from Rs. 300 to Rs. 540, - Development Officer from Rs. 445 to Rs. 800.

¶ 09 Doctors’ salaries: MOBS basic goes from Rs. 54,290 (Jan 2025) to Rs. 70,778 (Apr 2025), then Rs. 81,264 (2026) and Rs. 91,750 (2027). Extra duty hour rates increase from Rs. 687 to Rs. 764, so at 120 hours ED, the doctor receives about Rs. 91,650 in April 2025, continuing in 2026–27. PH and other allowances remain unchanged. Thus total pay rises from about Rs. 226,497 (Mar) to Rs. 255,142 (Apr).

¶ 10 Beyond wages, the Budget focuses on infrastructure and the production economy. Some ask how we provide these reliefs while reducing wasteful expenditure. That is the difference: in five months we have safeguarded public funds and redirected them to people’s welfare.

¶ 11 As Ven. Wettewe Thero wrote in Guttila Kavya, “Ahō Devadatta noditi mokpura”—I remind the Opposition to see what is before them. Thank you.