The Hon. Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku - Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, before addressing the Mid-Year Fiscal Position, I wish to raise two matters.

¶ 02 Throughout the Tenth Parliament we participated fully. Opposition MPs, treating us newcomers kindly, guided and advised us. Many of them were in past Governments. I ask: if you knew the correct path then, did you knowingly drag the country into this abyss and bankruptcy, compelling us to go to the IMF? Or was it out of ignorance?

¶ 03 For decades, we have engaged in politics with a clear understanding of the right direction and that is why we have this mandate. People gave us 159 seats because we showed them the right path. Yet some try to claim we misled people. The people still understand us well.

¶ 04 I also note: the Opposition shows undue interest in our private lives. Is that the new political culture? We strive for a developed political culture. If you must scrutinise us, check our attendance, time in the Chamber, questions asked, visits to Ministries. Criticise us on accountability; we will accept that.

¶ 05 On the Mid-Year Fiscal Position: where is state enterprise performance today? Let me give one example under our Ministry: the Colombo Port East Terminal is a key foreign exchange earner. Its construction was to finish in 2027. In the past month, about 40 vessels left because there is no berth capacity. Do not quote a single page of a report to claim SOEs are profitable; check the liabilities and whether there is profit after debt service.

¶ 06 The East Terminal was to finish end-2027. We have secured the capacity to reform and begin operations by mid this year—one and a half years ahead—providing a significant boost to the national economy.

¶ 07 Tourism too is constrained. A primary bottleneck is insufficient airport capacity. That project was to finish by 2028 even though work started now. Current processing capacity is about 6.8 million passengers; we are handling 7.2 million and expect 9 million next year. This is very challenging. Did you have a plan to operationalise this data? We have not seen such planning previously—perhaps that is why you kept saying it could not be done, petrol queues would return, gas queues would return, the dollar would hit Rs. 500.

¶ 08 We have commenced programmes to uplift domestic producers. Fertiliser support has been provided as a subsidy. But farmers, fishers and MSMEs must be integrated into the economy. The SME sector is our backbone; they drive cash flows. With the debt moratorium extension secured, our debt restructuring plan is in place. Without uplifting local industry, there is no path to recovery.

¶ 09 The most important factor is human capital development. Past Governments showed off concrete buildings but had no structured plan for human resource development. Even amid difficulties and IMF benchmarks, we provided Rs. 6,000 for school supplies to low-income families’ children. Human capital is the lifeline of a country. Alongside physical and financial resource management, we ensured benefits reached the most deserving by adhering to criteria and expanding Aswesuma.

¶ 10 The exodus of professionals was a grave problem. What plan did you have to stem it? None. Many had already applied and left, having spent money and made commitments. We raised tax thresholds and restored confidence that the State has a plan and needs professionals. We are also working to encourage professionals abroad to return.

¶ 11 As a Government, we have shown we can make data-driven plans work at ground level. It is not enough to present theory; we must plant it in the soil. I believe, as an NPP Government, we now have the foundation to proceed in line with IMF benchmarks. Thank you.