The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe – Minister

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, I believe I was speaking about vehicles. Since I was asked about vehicle imports, I must respond. You asked why vehicles are being imported now. I referred to the situation in our nearly 340 local authorities. As Chairman of the Anuradhapura District Coordinating Committee, I face constant issues: in that district, all 19 local authorities and their mayors or chairmen face daily problems. There are no functioning gully bowsers to remove sewage; there are no loaders; bulldozers are broken; chairmen lack vehicles to travel.

¶ 02 These problems are persistent. In an emergency, there is no gully bowser available. A bowser from town must be sent elsewhere. Hospitals have no way to clean sewage tanks. These are the real issues.

¶ 03 Hon. Leader of the Opposition, I will also explain how we will distribute the next batch of imported vehicles. From the vehicles being brought, we will allocate essential ones: there are 100 gully bowsers; 175 tractors; 100 water bowsers; 160 tippers; and 75 motor graders. The list includes 610 vehicles, and among them 90 three-wheelers, bringing the total close to 700. There are also vehicles for officials in the relevant ministries. Officials who previously used luxury vehicles also need operational vehicles. Therefore, we will provide them as well.

¶ 04 Hon. Chairman, under the Ministry of Local Government, around 4,000 vehicles are to be maintained. Hon. Leader of the Opposition, that costs around Rs. 3,350 million annually. Consider this. It will not be zero. Maintaining old, worn-out scrap yields what? Some vehicles are literally held together with makeshift parts.

¶ 05 Anuradhapura local authorities such as Nochchiyagama and Thirappane have submitted estimates. With the cost to repair, you could instead purchase a usable vehicle, Hon. Chairman. We said not to repair, because it will not be effective. If we repair a large number, people will ask whether we are mad. That is the actual situation. Hon. Gayantha Karunathilaka, rather than repairing, it is better to give new vehicles. Otherwise, these institutions cannot function. That is why we proposed to provide new vehicles — not just for our own side in Malima, but for every local authority across the country. Kabitigollewa will also receive vehicles; even if its chairman is from your side, we will allocate one. Why? Because every local authority needs vehicles.

¶ 06 In Kabitigollewa we won seven council seats, but we will still allocate vehicles even if your side formed the board and your member became chairman. Weligama will also receive vehicles — even though we won 22 seats there. We do not consider who won; every local authority serves the people and must carry out maintenance in their areas. Therefore, it is wrong to carry on false narratives asking why vehicles are being imported, claiming, “These will be given to JVP cadres or Malima activists.” No, they will not.

¶ 07 Even if we provide vehicles to the chairmen of local authorities, we will need around 300. If we were to give perfectly to all, it would be 341, but I stated 300 because some authorities already have decent vehicles. In Anuradhapura, there are about two that run well; accounting for such, I said 300.

¶ 08 In this Parliament there are multiple offices: the Leader of the Opposition’s Office, the Government Chief Whip’s Office, the Minister’s Office, the Leader of the House’s Office, the Opposition Chief Whip’s Office, etc. When multiple offices exist, vehicles have been allocated to some; however, certain Deputy Ministers lack vehicles. My own Deputy Minister has no operational vehicle; his assigned vehicle is in the garage. We must provide a usable vehicle — a cab has been given but it is not sufficient. Therefore, we will provide vehicles to all who require them.

¶ 09 We also said MPs would be given a cab and, after five years of use, they must return them. Spreading lies when such allocations are planned is wrong. These vehicles are not only for MPs. They are for local authorities, for government officials, and to revive dysfunctional institutional systems within the public service. We intend to bring in these vehicles to activate those systems. Furthermore, Hon. Chairman, we have transparently told the public that we spend around Rs. 3,500 million annually to maintain these local authority vehicles. Over four years, that is Rs. 14,000 million, Hon. Leader of the Opposition. Would it not be better to provide new vehicles to those institutions?

¶ 10 Hon. Chairman, the Hon. Leader of the Opposition has even looked into the family details of our Minister Prof. Chandana Abeyratne — his sister’s job and his father’s job. I am saying this is unnecessary; check if you wish, but there is no issue.

¶ 11 On increasing salaries and allowances for Registrars, this is under active consideration, and we will take a decision.

¶ 12 Regarding cutting Recurrent Expenditure in local authorities, you said to reduce it. That decision was not ours; it came from the 2023 Budget, where 20% was cut then, and by 2028 it phases to a 100% cut. By 2028, with a full cut, some local authorities will not be able to function; that is true. Therefore, we have taken a decision: our Minister presented to Cabinet to classify local authorities into four categories based on revenue. We are allocating funds for capital expenditure accordingly.

¶ 13 We will also provide vehicles to these institutions and equipment for income-generating activities, strengthening areas where necessary. We will examine how to enhance self-generated revenue. Under this Government, local authorities will not be weakened; we state this with responsibility, Hon. Leader of the Opposition.

¶ 14 I must conclude, but briefly on the Labour Ministry and pensions. The Hon. Leader of the Opposition spoke of the pension scheme. He forgets that in 2016, when he was in Government, it was your administration that stopped the traditional pension for new State recruits, replacing it with a contributory pension. From 01.01.2016, appointment letters stated entitlement to a contributory pension. But where was the actual contributory mechanism? Which account? How were deductions made? None of this existed. Employees who joined after 2016 did not know how their pension would be paid. We have now removed this uncertainty and regularised the pensions for all who joined the State service after 2016 — this Malima Government did that.

¶ 15 On 2020–2024 retirees, you raised doubts. The Minister will clarify, but there is no issue. We have addressed pension concerns transparently and have appointed a Commission to resolve any remaining issues. If any government resolved worker wage issues across State, private, and plantation sectors in our history, the Malima Government is recognised for that. The plantation minimum wage increases were led by this administration; the private sector minimum was raised by Rs. 9,000 previously; in 2025, wages increased from Rs. 21,000 to Rs. 27,000, and next year to Rs. 30,000.

¶ 16 On labour law reform and the eight-hour workday: globally, with technology and data-driven work, many advanced economies are moving to 6.5–7 hour models. Our position remains the eight-hour day; daily max eight hours, weekly 45 hours. We have appointed a Committee to review labour laws in line with international conventions, consult all stakeholders, and bring comprehensive reforms to support workers, the economy, and the country’s future.

¶ 17 Finally, I urge the Opposition not to take a double stand on the plantation wage issue. Do not support it here and oppose it outside. Even if someone has complained to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption on this, such complaints can be withdrawn or corrected. Let us be consistent. For workers who have toiled on estates for 200 years, we have decided to grant these benefits. Where workers contribute Rs. 200 to the EPF/ETF-linked benefit, the Government will reimburse Rs. 200. Encourage everyone, including the Opposition, to support this.

¶ 18 This Government has delivered for working people, protected their rights, and upheld the rights of State employees and pensioners, honouring our pledges. Thank you, Hon. Chairman.