The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, we thank the Government for presenting these important Bills. We know workers—both public and private—are struggling under the current cost of living. Their income streams have broken, expenses have risen, and survival is difficult. The situation is far from rosy.

¶ 02 The Deputy Minister who spoke before said past governments did nothing. That is not true; increases were made through various mechanisms, sometimes by law. That is how we have reached this point, and you are now increasing further—we welcome and support it. The real question is whether the amount is sufficient. You yourself said it is not. Private sector employees today ask to raise the minimum monthly wage to Rs. 50,000. According to Census and Statistics data and from speaking to ordinary workers, for a family of four the demand is to raise it to Rs. 50,000. You have taken it to Rs. 27,000 now and plan Rs. 30,000 next year. It is a step forward; hence we will extend support and constructive criticism. Do not turn to attack the Opposition—we too, when in Government, implemented such measures that brought us here.

¶ 03 Regarding estate workers, you said you would raise the daily wage to Rs. 2,000, then said it is being discussed at Rs. 1,700. The President, during the Budget, said Rs. 1,700. But still only Rs. 1,300 is being paid. The necessary steps are not being taken. It was said discussions were held with planters, but the very next morning planters said no such discussion had taken place. Thus estate workers have not received relief. The process to increase their basic wage must be strengthened.

¶ 04 We must also consider whether private sector employers can afford these payments. When world fuel prices go down, you raise local prices; you once said a government isn’t needed to do that. You said fuel prices should go up and down with the market and even wrote that no rice grain would be imported, but the next day 40,000 metric tons were brought. Now it is said rice will be imported as needed. I don’t understand this Government’s approach.

¶ 05 At the same time, remember that those who protected 203,000 innocent people are on the streets under the parate law; one million entrepreneurs are distressed, and in coming months their properties will be taken. There is no solution. We say we increased private wages, but if we do that and the private sector collapses, what then? We must consider this too.

¶ 06 Under Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Government, the “Urumaya” program began to grant land ownership to about two million people without legal title. Under your Government, “Urumaya” has become “karumaya” (a misfortune). On 14 February 2025, a Cabinet paper appointed a review committee; its decisions are now out. Over four million have handed in applications for permits and grants. Now people have neither their applications nor the promised permits. They wonder what to do. These documents carry the signature of Ranil Wickremesinghe—now you won’t issue them. Files are piling up at the Land Commissioner General, Land Registries, and Mahaweli Authority. Please decide and issue the free grants. The very review committee itself says the land market has become active, proper values are assigned, stamp duties increase state revenue, and owners get proper valuations. Please distribute these land grants.

¶ 07 Earlier you created great fear about the Port City. Now, secretly, you have given tax concessions. Under Special Gazettes 2445/02 and 2445/03–05 of 14 July 2025, tax concessions and incentives are given to Ceylon Real Estate Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, Clothespin Management and Development (Pvt) Ltd, IFC Colombo (Pvt) Ltd and ICC Port City (Pvt) Ltd, apparently for 35 years. The Cabinet decisions of 1 July and 7 July 2025 do not mention granting such tax concessions. So it has been hidden from the country—removed even from Cabinet briefing notes. We want to know what concessions were given.

¶ 08 You criticized the Rajapaksas for giving tax holidays, but now you too give them—even as the IMF says not to. We are not opposed to incentives per se; but those who once opposed now do the same. Earlier you said investors are made to dance and given 35–40-year tax holidays—“Is a government needed for this?” Yet now you do it. That is the reality—you now understand it. Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe has grown “larger” in office.

¶ 09 (Interjections)

¶ 10 Finally, having granted such tax reliefs, somehow increase revenue. With that, I conclude. Thank you.