The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I am pleased to participate in the debate on the Second Reading of this year’s Budget. The Hon. Member who just spoke said the Opposition has nothing else to do but find fault. If one is in the Opposition, one must do that. Our aim is not to belittle every plan you bring. We will support what is good and oppose what must be opposed. That is our purpose.

¶ 02 Even if your objective is to form a government on communist principles, after 77 years since Independence you now have the opportunity to present a new Budget. The ideology may differ, and practices may differ today. The current situation compels adherence to liberal policies. Fifty years ago we might not have known what “digital” meant, but today we cannot function without digital technology. Likewise, your policies can change, and in line with such change there are good elements in this Budget, while there are shortcomings too. Do not think we only criticize; we are offering constructive suggestions.

¶ 03 We welcome the many programs in this Budget that focus on the welfare of low-income people. Poverty must be eliminated from this country; we too care about that. Especially, we welcome programs for rural children, pregnant mothers, and plantation workers. If you bring poverty eradication programs, we will support you. Malnutrition is high today, particularly among the plantation communities; for measures you take to address this, we will always give our support.

¶ 04 Next, we must improve small and medium-scale economic activities. You have allocated funds and even proposed a new bank in this Budget for that purpose. Only by empowering small and medium farmers can we increase domestic production. No economy can be good without increasing domestic production. Today, you are doing what the IMF says. If you want to go beyond IMF thinking, you must show higher growth. For that, interest rates should be reduced. Appoint capable experts and take the necessary steps.

¶ 05 Large investors must come to this country. But they are very hesitant—this was true under the previous government and remains so. Even the Adani Group is now looking to leave. We must not lose the opportunities we get; we must retain investors. Then only will investments increase. Bangladesh’s economy is now in decline and investments there are moving to other countries like Thailand and Vietnam. Why can we not attract those investments to Sri Lanka? We must create the enabling environment.

¶ 06 In previous governments, bribery was like a ‘ghost’ haunting the country. Today that ghost is being chased away—perhaps not fully, but to some extent. Continue the measures to fully eradicate bribery and corruption. We will fully support you. There should be no bribery, corruption or waste in this country. For that, take decisive action.

¶ 07 On plantation livelihoods, you have said the basic daily wage will be raised to Rs. 1,700. Even during the last election, Ranil Wickremesinghe said this. But it did not happen in practice because the companies did not agree. Therefore, you must persuade the companies to pay it. In this matter, you must exert pressure on the private sector and state companies alike, because the Treasury can pay in the Government sector, but in the private sector, without their cooperation it cannot be implemented. Apply pressure on the 22 private companies and the state companies to ensure the Rs. 1,700 basic wage is paid.

¶ 08 I also recall that during your campaign you promised a Rs. 2,000 basic daily wage. Today you too cannot deliver that due to present economic constraints. Even if you plan to deliver it in the future, ensure at least the Rs. 1,700 is implemented immediately.

¶ 09 The cost of living has increased. In a family with four children, all should be cared for equally—no disparities. To achieve that, incomes must be sufficient. Likewise, people across the country must be cared for without disparities. Today in Colombo living standards are higher, while in Jaffna and the Hills they are lower. A government’s aim must be to maintain living standards for all, without inequality.

¶ 10 In this Budget, about Rs. 4.2 billion has been allocated for plantation housing and infrastructure development; about Rs. 2.4 billion for vocational training and livelihoods of Hill Country Tamil youth. These are welcome. But we must see whether the Rs. 4.2 billion includes Indian funding or is solely from the Sri Lankan Government.

¶ 11 Similarly, it is stated that schools and hospitals there will be brought under the Government—a welcome move. Even in our government, many hospitals were brought under the Government, enabling development; in some places it could not be done then. So, take steps now to develop those hospitals and schools.

¶ 12 Finally, to some Hill Country Tamil Members who have come from Jaffna: do not belittle the former leaders of the Hills and seek sympathy by insulting our people. As representatives of the Hills, seek proper recognition for them. For 76 years, our leaders were also in successive governments and did what they could. Show the way forward and secure relief for the people. Thank you for the opportunity. Vanakkam.