The Hon. Mano Ganesan

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, thank you for the time.

¶ 02 Today is the final day of debate on the NPP Government’s maiden Budget. We will vote against it. This Budget is a fairy tale: there are expenditures, but where is the revenue?

¶ 03 The Prime Minister reportedly told a Tamil newspaper that the Government has a package of proposals for the hill country Tamil people. Good—please do it. But in this Budget, only Rs. 7,200 million is allocated for the hill country Tamils, of which Rs. 4,100 million is India’s commitment under the Indian credit line for housing and smart classrooms—resources we helped secure for Sri Lanka through our engagements with the Indian leadership.

¶ 04 Minister Vidyaratne recently listed many achievements of the Yahapalana Government. Please inform those in your Government representing the hill country Tamils what we did then—we did work, and you should continue what we started.

¶ 05 I also discussed with the Prime Minister an issue regarding three national schools in Colombo—Royal College, Isipathana College, and D.S. Senanayake College—that teach in all three languages. Tamil medium classes have been systematically reduced. For example, Grade 1 has around 12 Sinhala medium classes but only two Tamil classes, despite a roughly 50:50 Sinhala:Tamil ratio in the Colombo city radius. You came to change systems—so change this too and increase Tamil medium classes in those three schools.

¶ 06 National harmony is built when Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim children study under the same roof. Segregating children by Sinhala, Hindu, and Muslim schools in early years makes it hard to later ask them to stand up as Sri Lankans at 18.

¶ 07 On private universities: your past positions were different—change them now. Allow renowned international universities to operate officially in Sri Lanka to transform the landscape. Make Sri Lanka an education hub—we will support you.

¶ 08 On Hambantota refinery and Trincomalee oil tanks, your earlier rhetoric painted China/India “colonies.” Those positions have changed—embrace pragmatic engagement and give our youth opportunities.

¶ 09 A word to Minister Bimal Rathnayake, who earlier promised to table the list of bar licences allegedly given as political bribes under former President Ranil Wickremesinghe. We are still waiting. Bribery is not just cash-in-hand; it is conferring benefits contrary to law. If you alleged it, table the list. Bars and wine stores per se are legal; kasippu and drugs are illegal. If 100–500 bar licences were given to MPs as bribes, produce the names.

¶ 10 Also, 225 MPs and Ministers need facilities—vehicles, housing, decent pay, staff—to work. I didn’t take an official residence when a Cabinet Minister because I lived in my own home, but facilities are necessary for performance. Do not demonize them.

¶ 11 On vehicle permits: do not mislead people that you stopped them after coming to power; they were stopped in 2016. MPs need proper vehicles to travel for work, especially those from outstations.

¶ 12 A current runs within your Government—the sense of insecurity. The Budget sits alongside an election campaign. We are not afraid of elections, but be practical. We did not attend four days due to the “Batalanda Commission Report” debate scheduling; do not accuse us of supporting Ranil Wickremesinghe. If he has done wrong, take legal action. But campaign realities must be recognized. Thank you.