The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, while several laws are amended today, the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment has also brought the Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill. Samurdhi began in 1994; later the previous government replaced Samurdhi with Aswesuma benefits.

¶ 02 The Minister stated Samurdhi beneficiaries have saved about Rs. 250 billion in their banks and unions—these are the poor people’s savings—so regulating and safeguarding them is good and responsible.

¶ 03 However, Samurdhi/Aswesuma alone is not enough to live on, though even Rs. 3,000–15,000 is a relief. We are in an economic war. The previous government lost power due to the crisis; people voted for change hoping to ease their burdens.

¶ 04 Let me illustrate the current reality: a family of six—father, mother, four children—perhaps Samurdhi or Aswesuma recipients. For breakfast: two loaves (Rs. 280), 200g dhal (Rs. 80), one coconut (Rs. 200), total Rs. 560. For lunch: 1 kg rice (Rs. 240), 500g fish (approx. Rs. 855 at current prices), 500g carrots (Rs. 300), 500g brinjals (Rs. 120), one bunch of greens (Rs. 150) → Rs. 1,665. For dinner: 1 kg rice (Rs. 240), 500g potatoes (Rs. 170), 200g dried sprats (Rs. 250), 250g dhal (Rs. 80) → Rs. 740. Total per day on food: Rs. 2,965; per month (30 days): Rs. 88,950—excluding gas, firewood, spices. Add fuel for a small scooter: 3 litres/day ≈ Rs. 915; monthly ≈ Rs. 27,450. Electricity ≈ Rs. 9,000. Altogether around Rs. 128,000 per month just to manage.

¶ 05 This is why people sought an alternative—“Maaleemawa” (your alliance). The question is whether monthly costs have fallen. This is the economic war we must win. The President, Cabinet, and government are trying to reduce prices of essentials—rice, coconut, bread, vegetables, fish—but it is not easy.

¶ 06 Yesterday, during a Finance Ministry debate, the Deputy Minister of Economic Development said money printing was by the Central Bank, not by the “Maaleemawa” government. But the Central Bank belongs to the government of Sri Lanka; money printing must be done with awareness of inflationary effects. Another Minister said money printing does not increase inflation—if so, just print indefinitely! That is not a solution.

¶ 07 Hon. Minister, regarding Samurdhi staff: about 25,000 were recruited in 1994–95, with more later. Many will retire in two or three years. Most of them voted for your side. To sustain the system, new recruitments will be necessary; otherwise operations will suffer.

¶ 08 I hear of a plan to select 50 families per Grama Niladhari division—12 former Samurdhi and 38 current Aswesuma recipients—for empowerment. If that means reducing current benefits of Rs. 3,000–10,000 to many and removing support, then by 2026 and 2028 seven million people could lose Aswesuma, and eventually 21 million-person equivalents over cycles—clearly impossible given family costs. We must win the economic war first. People will not tolerate cuts that hit their stomachs. Instead, use the Rs. 250 billion of poor people’s savings to design programmes to genuinely empower them—teach to fish, do not merely hand out fish—and remove the “Samurdhi/Aswesuma beneficiary” label by helping them stand on their own feet. We will support such measures.

¶ 09 Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.