Hon. Eranga Gunasekara - Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity to make the concluding speech from our side today.

¶ 02 We presented a Citizens’ Budget yesterday. The opposition struggled to find anything substantive to say—commenting on the President’s shirt button, a green paper in hand, alleging it was an IMF Budget, or that it was written for Ranil. Nothing of substance.

¶ 03 First, align your own party’s position. One of you said this is a neo-liberal Budget; another said the state footprint is too big; then another said digitalization is a liberal idea. Which is it? At least read the opening, middle, and end of your prepared speeches. Tell us: is it liberal, socialist, or state-heavy? The truth is: for 70 years you never made a Budget like this. You cannot understand it because you never understood people’s uprisings.

¶ 04 We are building the country with the people. This is a Citizens’ Budget because, after 70 years, citizens awakened and removed corrupt forces, filling this Parliament with democrats from all communities—Sinhala, Tamil, Burgher, Muslim, Malay. Remember: after 76 years, an NPP Government presented a truly Sri Lankan Budget—reflecting youth, workers, entrepreneurs, intellectuals, and long-marginalized communities.

¶ 05 This is also the first step of system change. Previously, rulers told people to tighten belts while they loosened theirs. We cut rulers’ perks and redirected benefits to citizens—hence we could present the most citizen-supportive Budget.

¶ 06 This Budget shows a path for youth. The youth powered the people’s awakening; now we can offer them hope and responsibility. In 2021, the then government allocated Rs. 6,000 million to Youth and Sports; in 2024 it was Rs. 10,200 million; now we allocate Rs. 12,100 million, and beyond that, over Rs. 17,000 million is directly earmarked for youth across other ministries—over Rs. 29,100 million in total for youth.

¶ 07 We also allocate Rs. 15,400 million for vocational education to modernize skills nationally and internationally.

¶ 08 Some said a digital economy is “liberal.” That shows ignorance. Knowledge is a human construct; our aim is to bring advanced capabilities to all, especially youth. Digitalization is not only about IDs—it starts there and proceeds step by step. We allocate over Rs. 21,000 million for digital initiatives.

¶ 09 On public jobs: in the past, jobs were handed out arbitrarily—people measured tree heights to recruit. We have ended that culture. We plan, identify vacancies, test and interview, then recruit 30,000 scientifically over time. Budgeting shows this is affordable within the year, with recruitment phases and salary scales considered. Graduates will be prioritized, and recruits will contribute tangibly to the economy.

¶ 10 We also support youth entrepreneurship through a cooperative-based program with over Rs. 100 million, and, working with banks, we will roll out a new development banking framework. For youth in agriculture, we allocate over Rs. 500 million.

¶ 11 In sports, we focus on building a sports culture and a sports economy. We will rehabilitate key facilities, including allocating over Rs. 1,000 million to refurbish Sugathadasa Stadium. Even the National Youth Services Council auditorium roof is collapsing—we will fix these.

¶ 12 This is a Citizens’ Budget that anchors system change and marks youth as the symbol of the future. For the first time, Sri Lankans themselves have shaped this Budget. After its passage on March 21, we will work throughout the year to make it a reality on the ground. Thank you.

¶ 13 It being 6.00 p.m., Business was interrupted, and the Debate stood adjourned. Debate to be resumed on Wednesday, 19th February, 2025.