The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I am pleased to comment on the 2026 Budget. In doing so, we must also reflect on the Budget presented for early 2025. The President then presented many proposals similar to this Budget. However, as all know, about 40% of those proposals could not be implemented, and only around 40% of capital allocations have been utilized to date. The people elected supposed experts to this House, expecting efficient ministers to deliver progress. I therefore request that for 2026, the many commendable proposals and development allocations be actually implemented for the people’s welfare — unlike 2025.

¶ 02 At the outset of this debate, many ministers tried to portray that they inherited a bankrupt, crisis-ridden country with fuel and gas shortages and power cuts. But the people know that President Ranil Wickremesinghe, during the preceding two years, ended the fuel queues, resolved fuel, gas, and power shortages, and handed over to you foreign reserves exceeding USD 6 billion. Repeating that you inherited a collapsed state will not convince the people. You are building on that foundation.

¶ 03 Before coming to power, the current President and ministers made many promises — VAT relief to reduce the cost of living; revival of agriculture and education. Yet the current Budget does not set out how those promises will be delivered, nor allocate adequate relief.

¶ 04 On education: we all recall the protests and strikes — principals, teachers, and students — demanding attention to education and 6% of GDP for education. Even those now in government stood with T-shirts in those protests. Today, despite all the talk, you have not allocated even 1% on that basis; the sector continues to face daily crises.

¶ 05 On agriculture: you always spoke from the farmers’ side — self-sufficiency in rice, advancing agriculture. When farmers protested then, you led from the front. Today, everywhere we hear distress calls. In Nuwara Eliya and Keppetipola, potato farmers blocked markets; in Dambulla, big onion farmers are desperate. The Government did not act in time. The Minister of Agriculture spoke of solutions; but where was the planning? Had you forecast local harvests and market inflows and moved early with duties and gazettes against imports, this crisis would not have erupted, and farmers would have received fair prices.

¶ 06 On tea: you spoke emotionally about estate workers and the industry. For smallholders, you said we must raise production from 280–300 million kg to 400 million kg. Where are the proposals and funds to do so? The first step is fertilizer support; reduce VAT on agrochemicals and other inputs. One app and a QR code will not revive the industry; smallholders need at least quarterly fertilizer support to raise yields. Without this, you cannot reach 400 million kg — a sector vital for foreign exchange.

¶ 07 On estate wages: you said daily wages were Rs. 1,350 and will go to Rs. 1,550 — an increase of Rs. 200. Some spoke of Rs. 10,000 monthly increases, but companies tell me they were not consulted, while the President announced it in the Budget. Moreover, adding a Rs. 200 “attendance allowance” paid by the Government for up to 25 days is not a real solution; few can work 25 days a month in rubber or tea under prevailing conditions, and companies historically raise targets to offset wage hikes. Without a structured agreement with plantation companies, you risk further squeezing workers. Please negotiate a fair, enforceable framework with companies rather than announcing figures that will not materialize on the ground. Thank you.