The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda

¶ 01 Madam Presiding Member, on the President’s Head, much attention has focused on who used more or less of the allocation. What matters more than the size of the allocation is whether funds under the President’s Head deliver benefits to the people and necessary institutions.

¶ 02 Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s speech years ago said he would cut 90 percent of the President’s Head. Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022 allocated Rs. 2.78 billion; now President Anura has allocated Rs. 2.99 billion. The key issue is not the amount, but the value to the people. Unnecessary spending should be curtailed – and we welcome that example – but we must ensure the decentralised allocations and benefits under the President’s Fund, medical assistance, Mahapola scholarships, O/L student assistance, and religious reform grants are strengthened, not weakened.

¶ 03 This Head also funds the President’s staff, the Presidential Secretariat, Independent Commissions, the Presidential Investigation Unit, etc. The allocations should enable these institutions to perform effectively.

¶ 04 When Provincial Councils functioned, members – Government and Opposition – supported local children, housing assistance, driver training, and small industries using Council and Sports Fund allocations. That has stopped. Today, Governors act as the President’s representatives. Therefore, when a child needs support to represent the country in sports, Governors should be able to allocate assistance.

¶ 05 On vehicles: the Minister said high-value vehicles of the Presidential Office will be auctioned. We also note the Southern Province Governor uses a luxury vehicle; the official residence in Galle is in a prime location. Such assets should be considered for tourism use. These matters deserve attention.

¶ 06 In Galle, a simple public request to plant a Bo tree in the harbour premises has been blocked by a senior Sri Lanka Ports Authority officer, even after three District Coordinating Committee meetings. I ask that attention be given so that such small public requests are not obstructed.

¶ 07 We should also recognize that some cost-cutting precedents started under Gotabaya Rajapaksa – reducing staff by around 2,000, not using the official residence, reducing foreign travel and escort vehicles. President Anura continues similar discipline. Our debate should be about how these funds best serve the people and institutions. We believe the current leadership is setting the right example and that allocations will be used for the people’s services. Thank you for the opportunity.