The Hon. Manjula Suraweera Arachchi

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today we speak on the expenditure heads of several ministries that move people, cities and the world. Our Government assumed office with the aim of solving the people’s fundamental problems. Yet when one examines the mountain of national issues, solving them by linking a single ministry or a few ministries is not simple. We must see reality. Some earlier proposals were presented; I will not critique them at length. But some in the Opposition tried to spread the idea that nothing can be done. I will speak about my district—Nuwara Eliya—an extremely sensitive district with a significant economy anchored in plantation agriculture across remote villages.

¶ 02 That economy must flow into our towns. There are myriad village issues—water, roads, housing—countless. A previous MP even claimed everything has been done there; I invite them to visit the villages and towns of Nuwara Eliya. In the towns, what do you see? There are no proper sewer lines, no toilet systems. Compared with towns attached to villages elsewhere, ours aren’t true towns. We need a special program for village development in Nuwara Eliya, and a major component of urban development too.

¶ 03 Under the Urban Development Plan in this Budget, Rs. 500 million has been allocated to develop Hatton town. We know it is insufficient. The Government has taken responsibility to develop a sequence of towns—Pundaluoya, Giniganthena, Maskeliya, Bagawantalawa, Diyagama, Kotagala, Talawakele and Ragala. Through this Ministry, we have already commenced some works in 2025, and through the Budgets of 2026–2028, integrating ministries, we will systematically develop these towns.

¶ 04 A sensitive matter: many main roads in Nuwara Eliya are dilapidated. Hon. Minister of Transport Bimal Rathnayake has given strong support for rehabilitation and placed special focus on rural roads in Nuwara Eliya; funds have been allocated. Even today, on some routes buses do not run due to road conditions. For example, along the Nildandahinna–Mallagama route the buses have stopped; likewise on the Padiyapalella–Goodwood road. Even today, 24 routes are too degraded for bus operations. I am tabling a list. On these, buses run sporadically and break down frequently due to large potholes. Yet the Opposition says everything is done. The bus is the primary connector between village and town. We mostly rely on SLTB buses. As of today, due to bus shortages, on 20 routes there are no buses at all. This is our present reality. The people have given us a mandate to move beyond this reality.

¶ 05 We have a significant task. Based on the country’s economic strength, we will systematically develop towns and rural roads. In 2025, Government allocated nearly Rs. 3,000 million; 44 roads are being carpeted. Through the Provincial Council and PRDA, many more are being rehabilitated with nearly Rs. 1,000 million spent.

¶ 06 Hon. Presiding Member, we have laid the groundwork for a major program. Everywhere we go, the public’s consistent plea is: “Fix our roads.” Even without culverts, they ask for basic road surfacing. The present Government has assumed responsibility to deliver. We will not run away; with commitment, we will address these basic issues and move the country forward. We invite the Opposition to join us. I conclude with that request. Thank you.