The Hon. Dewananda Suraweera

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, at this debate on three Ministries’ Heads of Expenditure, I must note that the traditional Opposition has again offered no constructive criticism or fresh proposals for the people.

¶ 02 Those who sold the people’s poverty and ignorance for power have spent a year here wailing and lamenting, doing nothing else. They will do the same in 2026.

¶ 03 One matter finally receiving attention under this Government is water. Water is life; it is not a commodity. The Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply has identified key issues faced by the public nationwide: non-continuous water supply in many areas, low pressure, frequent water cuts, and reduced public confidence in quality. For example, in Colombo District—Homagama, Kaduwela, Maharagama—low pressure and interruptions are severe.

¶ 04 Therefore, within the 2026 Budget, large-scale water management projects have been introduced. Two short-term projects targeted for completion in 2026:

¶ 05 - Greater Colombo Water and Wastewater Management Improvement: Rs. 200 million allocated. The primary goal is to reduce Non-Revenue Water (NRW). Current estimates suggest about 50% NRW. The project aims to reduce this to 18%, saving about 90,000 cubic metres of water—approximately Rs. 4 billion in value—by June 2026 through institutional strengthening and implementation.

¶ 06 - Ambatale Energy Conservation Project: Rs. 3,995 million. Objectives include reducing energy consumption at Ambatale Water Treatment Plant by replacing old machinery with new efficient systems; laying new mains from Ambatale to Ellie House Reservoir and from Gothatuwa to Maligakanda; replacing ~70-year-old pumps; and introducing a SCADA system to automate operations and enhance treatment and distribution.

¶ 07 Overall, this Government’s budget addresses water issues deeply and practically. As for the Opposition, their role next year too will be to weep and wail. Thank you for the opportunity.