The Hon. Susantha Dodawatta, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, this is the NPP’s inaugural Budget. I am fortunate to contribute at the Second Reading. Why do we say it is forward-looking? As the Deputy Health Minister explained, major allocations are proposed to digitize the health system. If a clinic card goes missing, a patient loses their treatment and test history. Digitalization will move us toward a modern health system. That is why we call it far-sighted.

¶ 02 This Budget also proposes a “Sri Lanka Day.” Ours is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-cultural country—Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Malay, Burgher. Yet rulers previously divided people along narrow ethnic and religious lines, resulting in long conflict. I tried to obtain full statistics of all citizens who died in the war, but only military and police figures are available. Civilians too died. We have a national need to build a Sri Lankan nation. Naming and celebrating a Sri Lanka Day can help. Many countries have such festivals—Germany’s Oktoberfest, Brazil’s Carnival, India’s Diwali. We lack a unified celebration where all communities jointly showcase their identities, culture, and arts. Such a festival could have reduced divisions.

¶ 03 Sri Lankan communities have diverse arts, cuisines, dress, and traditional industries. A Sri Lanka Day would bring these together, building pride and attracting the diaspora as tourists during November–December, our peak season. It can host music shows, cultural festivals, food festivals, peraheras, and craft workshops, boosting tourism and safeguarding local arts and industries while economically empowering those engaged in them.

¶ 04 We also propose expanding skills development programs for convicted prisoners, increasing current funds by Rs. 100 million. Punishment is not only for retribution; it should ultimately release a person suitable for society. Yet often inmates emerge worse. As of 18 February 2025, there were 9,092 convicted prisoners, with Rs. 1,084 spent per inmate per day. We must prevent recidivism by equipping them with employable skills so society can accept them on release.

¶ 05 Finally, regarding the recent triple homicide mentioned by Hon. Namal Rajapaksa: the deceased had given two interviews to a well-known YouTube channel, even naming who was going to kill him. I urge the Hon. Member to watch those.

¶ 06 The NPP presents not a traditional Budget but a long-term, forward-looking vision of how Sri Lanka will move with the future world. The Opposition has offered no logical critique; instead they claim this continues old Budgets. I conclude that this inaugural NPP Budget will pass with even Opposition support. Thank you.