The Hon. Aravinda Senarath

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today we are debating the Vote on Account in preparation for the 2025 Budget, presenting a portion now.

¶ 02 We took over a country in deep economic crisis—a collapse across social and economic sectors. It has been about 14 days since we formed the Government; about 75 days since the President took oath. The Opposition tries to say we created this crisis. But the architects of the collapse are those now in the Opposition, after decades of a liberal economic path since 1977 under leaders like Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mahinda Rajapaksa. With production fallen and agriculture broken, we even became a bankrupt nation. That is why the people gave the National People’s Power a mandate—to steer away from an inhumane market economy and build a productive economy. We are ready to implement those plans.

¶ 03 Past development projects lacked the right goals; they chased profits, ignored the environment, and never built a participatory, production-focused economy. They created a country where people could not eat three meals and some even took their own lives in despair. We did not come to continue that path; we came to change it, and we have begun.

¶ 04 In Hambantota, after 20 years of leadership there and in the country, the tragedy remains: rice prices are around Rs. 245 per kilo; coconuts are Rs. 175–190. Those responsible are now a small opposition. We will build a strong Paddy Marketing Board and purchase at scale to compete so there is no room for a rice mafia, ensuring people eat three meals with dignity. On coconuts, we know how pests and monkeys destroy yields—90 out of 100 nuts can be lost. No past Government protected coconut cultivation islandwide. Now they question a 75-day-old Government. We will answer, step by step.

¶ 05 Hambantota’s economy was gambled away. The Vote on Account funds will maintain essential services—pay public sector salaries and sectoral expenses. Yet in Hambantota, rulers played games with the local economy, collapsing key crops like arecanut and failing to build value addition in pepper and cardamom, even distorting markets through dubious re-exports.

¶ 06 We will rebuild. Our 159 MPs, led by Anura, have courage, plans and commitment. The construction sector, apparel and others had collapsed; millions lost livelihoods. We did not wish this. Now the Vote on Account will provide funds for four months to keep essentials going while we implement plans. When some now decry the Vote on Account, we remember their hedging fiascos and Greek bond adventures they defended, leading to today’s suffering. We will act lawfully and democratically to rebuild, and in six to twelve months, move the country forward visibly. Those hoping for failure should wait; we will deliver. I invite all to join—this is perhaps the last chance to rebuild together.

¶ 07 Thank you.