The Hon. Gamagedara Dissanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, many MPs have spoken since this morning. I am dismayed by the Opposition’s inability to properly analyse this well-structured, goal-oriented Budget. They approached this debate expecting the government to fall today or tomorrow. Instead, upon presentation, their hopes collapsed further.

¶ 02 The President delivered the Budget over four and a half hours with clarity and command of detail—this is how leaders present. Even some of the Opposition’s own economic “experts” have quietly acknowledged positive aspects, though many try to bury them for political reasons.

¶ 03 A hallmark of this Budget is fiscal discipline—absent in past regimes and the root cause of bankruptcy. This Budget ensures benefits reach every community and sector, especially the estate population. For the first time, a daily wage of Rs. 1,750 has been underpinned with a government-supported mechanism. The Opposition’s resistance to the government’s Rs. 200 contribution is shameful. The Opposition Leader or a responsible Opposition member should state clearly whether the SJB’s official position is to oppose this Rs. 200 support.

¶ 04 This morning, the Opposition Leader spoke of broken promises—ironically, perhaps his own. He reportedly left his party “orphaned” during a recent foreign tour, according to an MP’s media comments—so his anguish is understandable.

¶ 05 He also falsely claimed that there will be no public sector recruitment. In fact, next year we plan to provide about 70,000 stable jobs based on merit and needs—not the old practice of arbitrary political recruitments. The Opposition can keep dreaming through the day; we have presented a strong second Budget for the people, and future Budgets will continue to unsettle them. Thank you.