The Hon. Rathna Gamage - Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, before speaking, as a duty I thank the people of the Galle District who elected me to Parliament, and all who voted and supported us. On this day of presenting the Vote on Account, from the beginning there were attempts to obstruct. We trust experienced Members will conduct themselves maturely.

¶ 02 This is not the first time a Vote on Account has been presented before a Budget. It existed under the Donoughmore Constitution from 1931 to 1947, under the Soulbury Constitution from 1947 to 1971, under the First Republican Constitution from 1972, and under the Second Republican Constitution since 1978. Some Members who do not even know what a Vote on Account is are trying to overturn buckets since it was presented.

¶ 03 A previous Member even called this a Budget. Hon. Rohana Bandara, please note: this is not a Budget. Another Member said there are six brothers in Comrade Anura Dissanayake’s family. I do not know who did that birth certificate search. You misled the House by calling this a Budget. This is a Vote on Account. Know your facts before you speak.

¶ 04 Another was Hon. Kavinda Jayawardhana. He said, and left, that Rs. 320 million has been allocated for the President Anura Dissanayake’s advisors. Hon. Kavinda Jayawardhana, I challenge you: if you can, prove it. Will you bet your seat? He spoke falsehoods and left. He should come and answer here.

¶ 05 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, Hon. Hector Appuhamy said the President allocated funds to the fisheries community but not to small boats. Know the facts: It has been just ten days since the President took oaths. Within ten days, a Rs. 25,000 subsidy per hectare was given to all paddy farmers. For fishers, a fuel subsidy was given: for multi-day vessels, Rs. 25 per litre of diesel, up to 12,000 litres, i.e., up to Rs. 300,000. Did your governments ever give such reliefs? For small boats, Rs. 25 per litre for 15 litres per day, i.e., Rs. 375 per day; over 25 days, Rs. 9,375.

¶ 06 Since daily billing is hard, Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekaran submitted a Cabinet Paper, and with the approval of the Fisheries Inspector, monthly settlement is permitted. Do not pose questions and run out of the Chamber. Stay; we will answer. We are not new to politics; we have decades of experience. Speak with correct information, or else please stay home.

¶ 07 Through this Vote on Account, our President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has presented a clear plan over the next four months to uplift the productive economy. There can be issues, but I believe this Vote on Account can deliver for the country.