Hon. R. M. Jayawardhana - Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, this is the first Budget of the NPP Government. A Budget determines whether, in the coming year, a country moves forward or backward—and whether the people are content or distressed.

¶ 02 Throughout today’s debate, there were both criticisms and praise. We have presented a Budget structured across 12 priority areas. For example: - Rs. 604 billion for a healthy society and better lives - Rs. 483 billion for safe, efficient, eco-friendly and sustainable transport - Rs. 619 billion for quality, equity and excellence in education - Rs. 254 billion for an efficient, modern, sustainable agriculture sector to improve food and nutrition security - Rs. 44 billion for a greener life - Rs. 278 billion for a peaceful and just society - Rs. 404 billion for national security - Rs. 99 billion for economic services and entrepreneurship - Rs. 21 billion for sustainable, secure energy supply - Rs. 296 billion for a people-friendly public service - Rs. 749 billion for universal social protection

¶ 03 This is the foundation. People ask, “Where is the money?” We have been in government three months; the President about five months. Yet we have demonstrated money management—prioritizing public needs, cutting waste. As Hon. Wijeweera said, the President even returned unspent foreign travel dollars to the Treasury.

¶ 04 Hon. Member Chamal Sampath Dissanayake queried how we provide Rs. 10,000 “parcels.” We never said “free parcels.” We said, for the Sinhala-Tamil New Year, we will facilitate a concessional essentials pack through Lanka Sathosa. With government support, a pack worth about Rs. 15,000—10 kg rice, 5 kg sugar, 2 kg dhal, 2 kg big onions, 5 kg potatoes, 3 tins of salmon, Rs. 1,000 worth of biscuits, Rs. 1,000 worth of sprats, spices, etc.—can be sold at Rs. 10,000 to anyone who wishes to buy. That is the plan.

¶ 05 This Budget listens to every sector—no one is left out. For students, we are increasing Mahapola from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 7,500 (50%); and other student stipends from Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 6,500 (about 60%).

¶ 06 On industry and SMEs: - Rs. 7.98 billion for industrial promotion - Rs. 2.4 billion for investment promotion - Rs. 14.4 billion for tourism promotion - Rs. 38.64 billion for SME development - Rs. 4.28 billion to facilitate trade - 32 industrial parks to be developed - New economic zones planned

¶ 07 In Monaragala, two main state sugar companies—Pelwatte and Sevanagala—were crippled by overstaffing and mismanagement under previous administrations, harming thousands of livelihoods. We are exploring how to sustain them without closures or fire sales.

¶ 08 On production: - Agriculture: Rs. 124.7 billion - Fisheries: Rs. 11.4 billion - Road development: Rs. 89.5 billion - Mineral resources: Rs. 3.5 billion - Apparel/garment sector support: Rs. 11.3 billion

¶ 09 Industries need production as a base—not just machines.

¶ 10 Education allocations include: - School education: Rs. 458.8 billion - University education: Rs. 135.3 billion - Vocational education: Rs. 15.4 billion - Science and technology: Rs. 6.5 billion - Dhamma schools: Rs. 1.3 billion - Early childhood development: Rs. 4.4 billion

¶ 11 On the Eastern Province, the President stated there will be a separate program with Indian support, plus Rs. 2,000 million for irrigation, including projects like Oddalla.

¶ 12 Time is up, Hon. Deputy Minister.

¶ 13 Please one more minute. On salaries: the Budget explains clearly how salaries increase for teachers, doctors, and other officials. If unclear, read it again. This is a successful people’s Budget that also improves pensions—and it is the NPP Government that will pay those enhanced pensions. Thank you.