The Hon. D.V. Chanaka

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, yesterday the Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security said in Parliament that 807,000 low‑income applicants under Aswesuma will receive a goods pack worth Rs. 5,000 for Rs. 2,500. That is good—and not due to the local government election, we believe.

¶ 02 The pack includes 5 kg of rice (Naadu, or white/red Kekulu as preferred), 2 kg big onions, 2 kg potatoes, 2 kg lentils, one tin of salmon, 3 kg brown sugar, 2 kg wheat flour, 4 packets of soya meat, and 2 packets of Samaposha. Rice, onions, lentils, soya—fine. But why two packets of Samaposha?

¶ 03 Hon. Prime Minister, the Health Ministry provides Thriposha free to pregnant mothers via the Sri Lanka Thriposha Company. Under the Ministry, there is also Suposha—a 100% state‑owned product available for anyone to buy, widely accepted and not genetically modified. Yet the subsidized pack includes Samaposha. Why not Suposha? This is a business worth Rs. 300 million; with a 10% margin, Rs. 30 million could benefit the state enterprise, enabling assistance to 60,000 pregnant mothers.

¶ 04 The Chair of Sathosa is a former CEO/Director of Ceylon Biscuits Limited (CBL). He says he draws no salary, but when giving free relief packs to the people, why ignore the state’s Suposha and choose Samaposha, wasting taxpayers’ money? For state needs we go to state entities—the Army, CEB, CPC rather than IOC or Sinopec. Why then choose Samaposha over Suposha? What is this connection? Is CBL special? Is the Health Ministry not good enough?

¶ 05 Next, to Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Minister of Finance: doctors’ allowances. Doctors ask that the 1/80 rate for extra duty not be reduced to 1/120; or at least pay two‑thirds if you move to 1/120. For work on holidays, do not change 1/20 to 1/30; again, pay two‑thirds. They say if the Budget cannot bear it now, then not in 2025, 2026, or 2027; drop the arrears too—just give one‑third now and one‑sixth next year. This is a fair request. You promised six‑month pay hikes due to inflation; now over three years nothing. If doctors ask for four years forward and still get denied, we regret it.

¶ 06 Nursing officers: during Galle Face events, they were first to run to help, even on TV. But now this Government has hit them first. Promotion timelines from Class III to Class II extended from 5 to 10 years; from Class II to Class I from 7 to 11 years; from Class II to Supra Grade from 22 to 31 years. Their OT from 1/160 changed to 1/200; holiday duty from 1/20 to 1/30. This is how you treat those who supported you.

¶ 07 As a party, the SLPP will vote against this Budget. Reasons include: - Lowering ISO standards for drinking water quality. - 323 containers discarded—Customs cannot even say whether they contained narcotics, weapons, or high‑value goods. - Removing fuel levies and promising Rs. 50 reduction at first Budget—broken. - Jobs for 35,000 graduates promised at first Budget—still protesting outside. - Promised 30% electricity tariff reduction quickly; PUCSL did 20%, now you say you will increase again by another 15% after elections. - Added luxury tax making vehicles only for the rich; ordinary officers and middle class cannot afford even three‑wheelers or motorbikes due to taxes. - Claimed a Robin Hood Budget taxing big businesses; instead, increased withholding tax on deposits from 5% to 10%, burdening EPF, ETF savers, pension savings, and children’s accounts. - Promised to reduce school supply VAT and food taxes; instead re‑imposed 15% and added a new 15% on YouTubers and Facebook content creators who helped you.

¶ 08 People voted for your policy manifesto; its pledges are absent in the Budget. We will vote against.