Hon. Thilina Samarakoon

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, after our President presented the Budget, some in the Opposition claimed we signaled left but turned right—that we deviated from our movement’s long-held policies. There is no such deviation. Instead of debating big theoretical tomes, read the President’s Budget Speech: it clearly shows where we, as a new Government, intend to take the country.

¶ 02 In a moment of economic difficulty—after years of decline and practical bankruptcy—we have carefully managed fiscal space while still allocating funds for priority needs. That is an achievement. The Opposition should acknowledge the good.

¶ 03 Consider how we allocated money to priority Government tasks. Health: Rs. 45,638 million more than last year. Agriculture, livestock, lands, and irrigation: over Rs. 54,000 million more. Higher education and general education combined: over Rs. 12,000 million more than last year. For a production-oriented economy, we have also added over Rs. 4,000 million to industry this year.

¶ 04 This is a Budget for all the people. I was particularly moved by the allocation of Rs. 250 million to procure suitable vehicles to transport child suspects to court—reducing their trauma. Since 1948, I do not recall such a humane debate point in a Budget.

¶ 05 We will modernize the “Triposha” factory to supply needed nutrition; fund preschool meals and increase preschool teachers’ pay; double the Grade 5 scholarship stipend from Rs. 750 to Rs. 1,500; raise TVET students’ allowance from Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 5,000; increase the Mahapola stipend and raise bursaries from Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 6,500; raise the monthly allowance for dialysis patients from Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 10,000; increase elders’ allowance from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000; and provide Rs. 5,000 per month for orphans, especially those in children’s homes. This shows broad state intervention for people’s needs.

¶ 06 We also address neglected basics: Rs. 100 million to modernize rice storage; Rs. 100 million to build a cool room at Dambulla Economic Centre for food security; funds to renovate Higurakgoda and Pannegamuwa rice mill complexes. These are practical state interventions to serve people’s basic needs.

¶ 07 For SMEs, around Rs. 38.6 billion is allocated; Rs. 2,500 million for boosting dairy productivity; Rs. 200 million for fisheries and aquaculture. This is how we move toward a production economy—empowering farmers, fishers, and rice-mill–linked industries. The Opposition should grasp and critique these specifics.

¶ 08 We also address human–elephant conflict—a major issue in Kurunegala, Polonnaruwa, and Anuradhapura—with 1,456 km of elephant fences to be developed, reserve boundary demarcation, grassland management, and solid waste management—allocations the people have long awaited.

¶ 09 Some tried to sow doubts that we would undermine religion. The Budget answers that too: Rs. 3.54 billion for religious affairs, including substantial funds for maintenance and development of places of worship; solar power systems for religious institutions; Rs. 130 million to develop the Kelaniya Vidyalankara International Buddhist Centre; Rs. 1.27 billion for infrastructure at religious sites and for pilgrims.

¶ 10 We also provide for major irrigation, for produce transport facilities and market infrastructure—the everyday needs of our people. Yesterday, a Member queried an Economic Development Bank; the subject Minister replied that through the existing state banking system we are already supporting entrepreneurs. Regional Development Banks are being leveraged to uplift over 15,000 entrepreneurs; over Rs. 20 billion is being allocated through an SME credit scheme via state banks, rather than creating new banks, building a practical pipeline for MSMEs.

¶ 11 Therefore, it is clear: through this Budget, we have set out a concrete plan to move the economy forward. Instead of reading different big theory books, read this Budget presented by President Anura Dissanayake. Understand its content and how we aim to uplift people’s livelihoods. This is, and will be seen as, a transformative Budget that helps change this country for the better. Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.