The Hon. Rathna Gamage

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, please give me my time.

¶ 02 Regarding the Vote on Account: In the President’s Throne Speech, he clearly emphasized uplifting the national economy with people’s participation and ensuring fair distribution of its benefits—uplifting farmers, fishers, and industrialists.

¶ 03 By now, after the Throne Speech, some behave as if the stone has been pulled from under their feet. We say: if you have fair criticism, present it. If there is fair criticism of the President or the Prime Minister, we are ready to accept it. Do not mislead this House with falsehoods and then act like victims. In my maiden speech, I too feel some pain—because I aimed at a hare and hit a buffalo. I regret that!

¶ 04 We know the potential of the fisheries sector to strengthen the national economy. Sri Lanka has 65,610 square km of land, an Exclusive Economic Zone of 517,000 square km, and 27,000 square km of territorial waters. Yet successive governments allocated very little to fisheries: in 2023, Rs. 6,450 million (0.18% of total state expenditure); in 2022, Rs. 6,372 million (0.11%); in 2021, Rs. 8,358 million (0.31%). Now, under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, for the next four months via the Vote on Account, Rs. 5,769 million—about three times the earlier proportional allocation—has been set aside for fisheries. Thus, the Throne Speech commitments have been made reality, which may hurt some, but it brings joy to fishers. Around 315,000 fisheries workers, with 1.1 million dependents and 2 million including support services, are tied to this sector. They feel relief from our actions.

¶ 05 Despite being surrounded by the ocean—a massive economic zone—our people have not had adequate fish intake. WHO recommends 66 grams per day; our people consume only 31 grams. Our plan is to raise this to an optimal level within the next five years. The fisheries share of GDP was 2.1% in 2010; now it is 1%. We have a plan to restore it to an optimal level within five years.

¶ 06 Under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and this Government, there is a clear roadmap to raise the productive economy. Some may be pained, but fishers are heartened. We also want to create dreams for our fishers: just as an A/L mathematics student dreams of becoming a ship’s captain, a boat operator should also aspire higher. We must bring science—physics, friction, buoyancy, surface tension—into their training, elevating fisheries to a high-status industry. Our plan is built that way: with clear five-year targets to benefit fishers and communities.

¶ 07 We ask the people: after 76 years, you have entrusted us with this tangled ball of string. We are carefully unknotting it and will set the country right in five years. On advisors: back then, 98 were on salary; under Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa there was a notorious cohort, including “Jñāna Akka.” Now, eminent persons like Prof. Gomika Udugamasooriya and Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya have come forward to serve.