The Hon. E.M. Basnayaka

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity to speak on two Bills and several Regulations before the House.

¶ 02 I will focus on the Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill. I observed that some experienced Opposition MPs used this debate to pursue personal and political agendas. One MP attempted to instill fear by claiming that by end-2027, 200,000 beneficiaries will be cut. Another incorrectly stated there was a presidential election in 1983—it was in 1982; 1983 was “Black July.” Another seemed to believe this Bill alone can eradicate poverty entirely. I express my sympathy to such views.

¶ 03 Under the Samurdhi Development Department there are 1,097 Samurdhi banks and 335 Samurdhi community-based societies, with about 4 million beneficiary families and roughly Rs. 250 billion in deposits. Previously these were subject only to internal audits. Our NPP Government is bringing them under national audit, not out of whim, but because in the past some ministers used Samurdhi funds for political promotion. If any institutions across ministries and departments require reform to better serve the people effectively, we will not hesitate.

¶ 04 Since Independence, numerous anti-poverty projects ran—from the late 1940s onwards: food rations, JR Jayewardene’s policies, President Premadasa’s “Janasaviya,” Chandrika Kumaratunga’s Samurdhi, and later “Divi Neguma,” and now Aswasuma. Yet, poverty has often been used as a political tool. We state with confidence that the NPP Government will end this—no longer will anyone weaponize the poverty of our people for politics.

¶ 05 To truly end rural poverty, first we must ensure enabling conditions for life: land rights for people’s homes, proper transport including rural roads, and a strong local economy. Our Lands Ministry has commenced a programme to grant title to the land of people’s homes within our first five years. Our Transport and Highways Ministry is arranging improvements to rural roads and transport. The recent Budget allocated funds across ministries specifically to address rural poverty.

¶ 06 We have seen villages still with footpaths, no electricity, children walking 6-7 km to school. In Udadumbara, Galamuduna is such a village where even a bicycle cannot travel the six kilometres. These conditions were maintained for vote-bank politics. We will end such politics and build a prosperous country where the poor enjoy dignified lives. Thank you.