The Hon. Danushka Ranganath

¶ 01 Thank you very much, Hon. Presiding Member. Please take your seats; Hon. Mujibur Rahuman, please be seated. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this Committee Stage debate. Some in the Opposition shout even for trivial matters—we know why. When the National People’s Power Government is stabilizing the economy and setting the country on the right path, such people will scream. If they did not, who else would? They shout only for power. We tell the Opposition: keep shouting to please your galleries. But we are bound by a compact with the people, not with an Opposition that shouts and lies.

¶ 02 A short while ago, Hon. Namal Rajapaksa spoke about how many roads were built during their rule. However, no matter how many they built, they did not contribute to the economy; otherwise the country would not have gone bankrupt. If we found out how their elders became known as “Mr. Ten Percent,” we would also find out how the country went bankrupt.

¶ 03 At this Committee Stage debate we must raise several transport-related issues. As a Government, we have in recent times attempted to operate buses on an integrated timetable, combining SLTB and private services to deliver a higher-quality service. Our objective is a safer, higher-quality public transport system by integrating all stakeholders—without dividing private and state actors.

¶ 04 We implemented an integrated timetable in Kalutara District. Early this year we set integrated timetables on several routes; on some routes services now run more successfully. Competition and conflicts between the two sectors have reduced, revenue has improved for both, and the public is receiving a more efficient service.

¶ 05 Kalutara District has about 1,200 private buses and about 270 SLTB buses. We acknowledge the issues at SLTB. There are five depots in Kalutara, all running at a loss. The State is intervening to resolve issues and make them profitable. We invite all officers and employees to join with us to minimize losses and develop SLTB into a more efficient institution. We have already set integrated timetables on multiple corridors: 4 in Kalutara, 15 in Panadura, 4 in Matugama, 5 in Horana, and 8 in Aluthgama. We are reviewing all these routes together with stakeholders to further improve outcomes.

¶ 06 Upgrading rural roads improves living standards and enables people to contribute to national income. The RDA has rendered a great service by taking over maintenance of roads neglected by local authorities, particularly in the Western Province—74 RDA roads and 426 through District Secretariats under rural road development, totaling about 500 roads moving forward.

¶ 07 Under the 115080 project, many roads begun previously were halted. A former State Minister, Daya Gamage, stopped many works in Kalutara District, leaving numerous iRoad projects incomplete and unusable by the public. We have taken responsibility to complete these. In Kalutara, 24 halted roads under 115080 have now been tendered; final stages are underway.

¶ 08 We aim to accelerate national development. Many in the Opposition have not grasped that we inherited a battered, stalled economy and state, with halted progress across economic, political and social spheres. We are reviving it. We intend to cross this threshold successfully. Thank you for the time, Hon. Presiding Member.