The Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Gunawardana

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member, for the opportunity. Today we are discussing two important Supplementary Estimates and amendments to the National Audit Act, No. 19 of 2018. For decades, especially due to economic crises, the people suffered greatly. The people wanted to end that disastrous period. Accordingly, in 2024 they took the correct, rational decision, and a people’s government was formed. Through proper financial management, the country which was bankrupt is now emerging from bankruptcy.

¶ 02 As the country emerges from bankruptcy, the Opposition, day by day, is slipping into political bankruptcy — as we saw this morning. They do not even do justice to those who voted for them. When we bring laws for the benefit of all, they oppose and try to sabotage them.

¶ 03 Economic stability is improving by the day. Revenues are increasing, foreign remittances are up, tourism is developing, and tax revenues — income tax, excise, and alcohol duties — are rising. Export revenues are also growing. The trend of inflows of foreign direct investment is increasing. In the last six months, FDIs grew by 101% year-on-year, totaling USD 507 million. Over the last six months, the country received Rs. 2,325 billion in revenue, a 24.7% increase. As stabilization proceeds, benefits must reach the people.

¶ 04 First, I focus on the Supplementary Estimate to fund a nutrition pack for pregnant mothers suffering from malnutrition. Our policy statement, “A Prosperous Country – A Beautiful Life,” clearly referred to nutrition programmes for pregnant mothers. Through public health services, additional nutrition-needy pregnant mothers are identified, continuously educated, and monitored by Public Health Midwives. We also committed to providing financial support for a nutrition package during pregnancy and the early postnatal period for low-income families.

¶ 05 Maternal nutrition during pregnancy is crucial — affecting both the mother and child, and the child’s physical and mental development. When we consider early childhood development, the mother’s pregnancy is integral. We allocated Rs. 7,500 million in the last Budget to provide nutritious meals to about 200,000 mothers. We set aside Rs. 5,000 million in 2025 for the Thriposha programme and Rs. 1,000 million for preschool children’s morning meals. We have prioritized children’s nutrition to build a healthy future generation.

¶ 06 As a medical practitioner, I have seen the strong link between malnutrition and susceptibility to disease: anaemia, low birth weight, and underweight mothers are pressing issues. These programmes aim to address them. Under this Supplementary Estimate, pregnant mothers affected by undernutrition will receive a nutritional food pack. Although Rs. 1,500 million was allocated to provide subsidized nutrition packs to low-income people during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year in 2025, implementation was halted due to the Provincial Council election directives. Those funds will now be used more productively: during the coming Christmas season, we plan to provide a nutritious food pack to undernourished pregnant mothers, selected based on criteria from the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs. About 160,200 beneficiaries will receive Rs. 45,000 over ten months. Additionally, during December, beyond the existing Rs. 4,500 allowance to pregnant and lactating mothers, a one-time Rs. 5,000 nutrition pack will be provided.