The Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member, for the opportunity to speak on the expenditure heads of the Ministries of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, and Urban Development, Construction and Housing.

¶ 02 Tomorrow begins the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. We thank the Transport Minister for the decision to install CCTV in public transport to ensure the safety of women and children. About 90% of women experience harassment in public transport. With CCTV, perpetrators can be identified; currently, nothing is visible or provable, and complaints are not pursued.

¶ 03 On public transport improvements in 2025: the Ministry is developing SLTB bus stands, reconstructing destroyed depots, and building 10 driver rest facilities. Over 700 drivers and conductors are being recruited. Luxury and normal buses previously withdrawn are being repaired—200 to be reintroduced. Funds are allocated in this Budget to further develop depots. Many depots in Colombo and nationwide have been neglected for years; this is a good decision. Funds are also set aside to replace worn-out engines in 307 SLTB buses and to add 600 buses for long-distance services.

¶ 04 The Budget also allocates funds to deploy buses on unprofitable routes often shunned by private operators—this is vital for low-income passengers. I also remind the Ministry and SLTB/National Transport Commission that many low-income commuters in Colombo rely on bus routes that are currently not functioning; please address urban routes as well as rural.

¶ 05 Regulation is necessary alongside investment. This year we took a historic step by amending the National Transport Commission Act of 1991 and, for the first time, issuing regulations. The NTC is now moving to regulate vehicle roadworthiness and address drug use among drivers jointly with Police and RMV, covering buses, three-wheelers, school vans, and staff services. By next year, we are working on a road safety law. These are unprecedented in Sri Lanka and must be commended.

¶ 06 Under Urban Development, funds are allocated next year to build 27,000 houses—over 6,000 within Colombo. This addresses the pressing issue of unauthorized settlers without stable housing. Construction must proceed quickly and relocation must be handled sensitively. Last year we built 3,800 houses under the National Housing Development Authority by granting Rs. 1 million per house. Next year we will build 10,000 more houses with Rs. 1 million per house, taking total to over 27,000 houses under Government expenditure. Housing development and improved public transport especially benefit low-income people. Thank you.