The Hon. (Prof.) Chrishantha Abeysena - Minister of Science and Technology

¶ 01 Presiding Member, this is our Government’s second Budget. When we assumed office, there were no dollars, no rupees, investors had left, and the country had ground to a halt. Today, the Treasury is replenished. Political stability has been restored after years. We now have over USD 6 billion in reserves and over Rs. 1 trillion in cash balances. Ask instead what would have happened without this Government—these funds would not exist. We do not waste, we do not steal, we do not give tax holidays to cronies; we collect taxes from non-payers—over 3 million new taxpayers have been added.

¶ 02 But filling the Treasury is not enough; we must build a strong foundation—like a solid footing before adding floors. People, farmers, and public servants need relief, but that requires a sound economy. We have set macro-stability and strong fiscal discipline. We must now strengthen the domestic economy.

¶ 03 We allocate Rs. 1.2 billion to commercialize research—research is useless if not commercialized. We are increasing funding to Vidatha resource centres to take technology to villages and uplift micro and small industries—growth must reach the village.

¶ 04 Investment climate has improved; industrial zones are being established; more funds are allocated to ICT. Unlike before—when resources were looted via deals and theft—we emphasize a productive economy and an efficient public service to implement policy. Hence we are recruiting, after a freeze due to crisis: about 75,000 into the public service, but in a phased, needs-based manner to avoid fiscal imbalance.

¶ 05 We raised public sector salaries in 2025 without mass agitation, because we want an efficient service. We will again raise by allocating Rs. 110 billion—another 30 percent in January 2026, with the remainder in January 2027—having already given 30 percent in April 2025. Though extra duty rates were adjusted with reference to the 2027 scale, social media misled officers; yet in April and in January, they saw their pay increase.

¶ 06 We also raised the annual increment cap to 80 percent and made many other improvements. The Opposition had no plan to raise salaries; that is why the country collapsed. We first fixed macroeconomy; now benefits will flow to villages via programs like Grama Shakthi.

¶ 07 On vehicles: we are not buying luxury V8s. Many ministries and agencies—Irrigation, Environment, Wildlife, ours—lack serviceable vehicles and equipment. To raise public service efficiency, we need vehicles. The narrative that we are buying for MPs is false; vehicles are for official duties, with a separate, limited pool for MPs’ official use without ownership transfer.