The Hon. Kins Nelson

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, when the current President, as Minister of Finance, presented the 79th Budget, it is the Opposition’s duty to point out its strengths and weaknesses. The Government members who spoke before me said they took over a fallen, bankrupt, destroyed country. Before we discuss that, let us recall what was promised on the election stage. Are those promises reflected in this Budget?

¶ 02 I remember the current President said public sector salaries would be increased within six months. He also promised, especially to the farmers in my Polonnaruwa District and elsewhere, a guaranteed price of Rs. 154 per kilogram for paddy. Many such promises were made to the people. Back then, there was no talk of a “collapsed country.” Now, our responsibility as all 225 Members—both Government and Opposition—is not just to repeat campaign promises here, but to ensure accountability. We will acknowledge the good in this Budget and point out the bad, so it can be corrected. If wrong things are carried through, the people will send a message about that too.

¶ 03 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, yesterday the President of the All-Island Canteen Owners’ Association said, “This Budget says nothing about the prices of 6,905 items or the taxes imposed on them. Therefore, from tonight, the price of a rice packet and a kottu will go up.” The Constitution’s Directive Principles (Article 27) clearly place on the State the duty to ensure adequate food, clothing and shelter. That is not optional.

¶ 04 A previous speaker reminisced that in the old days people gathered by radios to hear what relief the Budget would bring, and that prices rose only once a year. That was during “our time,” he said. We pray for such a time to return.

¶ 05 We can keep blaming the past 76 years, but that’s not productive. The people did not give us, the then Opposition, power; they gave you power. So implement what you promised. We will support good measures and even vote for them if needed. All 225 of us must act responsibly for the country and its citizens; shouting and trading insults won’t solve problems. First, we 225 must come together. We, from the Opposition, try to meet Ministers and Government MPs to discuss matters, but often they won’t even look at us or smile. Please don’t be like that.

¶ 06 I propose we hold a workshop after this Budget to build relationships and coordination among us. That is our culture—to smile and talk. Deputy Minister T.B. Sarath, I’m saying we must first build relationships among us. Let’s have a proper Parliament workshop after the Budget and sit together and talk.

¶ 07 We discussed paddy pricing. In Polonnaruwa, Deputy Minister T.B. Sarath and three other MPs represent the district; I am the only Opposition MP from there. I rose from the grassroots; the others, as you say, entered through “preferences” or party strength. Don’t forget the Opposition MPs. When the public tide turns against you, we are the ones who look upward and push through. The people sent us here to solve national issues, not to sling mud.

¶ 08 As Minister of Finance, the President has allocated Rs. 35,000 million for fertilizer subsidies. The State expects that, with such support, Government stores will be filled with paddy at a guaranteed price. But that is not happening. For example, the country produces about 5 million metric tons of paddy a year. If you divide the Rs. 35,000 million subsidy across the paddy volume, it works out to about Rs. 7 per kilogram of paddy as fertilizer support. Then we expect, with a guaranteed price of around Rs. 120, to fill the silos. However, Sri Lankan farmers have never asked for free fertilizer. Politicians used the farmer to win power—promising free fertilizer and Rs. 3,500 fertilizer packs, and more.

¶ 09 What do farmers say today? They say: “Provide a quality 50 kg bag of fertilizer at Rs. 5,000 through Agrarian Service Centers; reduce the prices of pesticides and weedicides; give a fair price for paddy.” Farmers are not asking for free fertilizer. Therefore, while this Budget has already allocated funds, going forward please ensure a quality 50 kg fertilizer bag at around Rs. 5,000 via Agrarian Service Centers and the open market.

¶ 10 On the dairy sector, Rs. 2,500 million has been allocated. In Polonnaruwa, dairy farmers lack proper lands to keep their cattle or proper grasslands to feed them. We raised this earlier. If a cow strays into a wildlife zone, fines of Rs. 35,000–50,000 are imposed, which dairy farmers cannot bear. While I welcome the allocation for dairy development, the critical need is suitable grasslands. As Chair of the District Coordinating Committee, Deputy Minister T.B. Sarath can help us identify and set aside pasture lands. Let’s discuss this and act.

¶ 11 Yesterday, five elephants were killed by a train. Human-elephant conflict persists. Rs. 200 million has been allocated for electric fences. I checked where that money goes. It does not say if new fences will be built, if timber posts will be cut, or if “livelihood fences” will be erected. The President, as Finance Minister, says there are 5,611 km of electric fences and that Rs. 200 million has been allocated to rehabilitate 1,456 km. In Polonnaruwa alone there are about 110 km of elephant fences. Of the total, only 1,456 km are to be repaired with that Rs. 200 million; nothing is said about building new fences. We need both rehabilitation and new fences, particularly to protect selected farming lands. In Polonnaruwa, a portion of the 110 km is not functioning due to lack of capacity. As a result, elephants die on one side, people die on the other, and property is destroyed. Please prioritize constructing new fences and properly rehabilitating existing ones this year.

¶ 12 In our national parks, the guides are the ones who actually take tourists inside—Yala, Minneriya, etc. We had around 450 guides; now only about 200 remain, with no job security, despite serving for more than 12 years. I propose allocating funds to the Environment Ministry to regularize their employment.

¶ 13 On education, a certain party once opposed private universities. I heard the President in his Budget speech say that scholarships will be provided for students who excel at the G.C.E. A/L to study in foreign universities. Two foreign universities were once to come here, but Malaysia and Thailand took those opportunities. If we invite international universities to set up here, our children need not go abroad. Many students have left; parents bear huge expenses. These are resources that could come to Sri Lanka. Invite international universities; we have enough buildings and land to host them.

¶ 14 Regarding Budget estimates: the Environment Ministry says it has Rs. 5.3 billion, but the Finance Ministry shows Rs. 5.9 billion. Which is correct? I hope the Hon. Minister will clarify this at the Committee stage. Thank you for the time, Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees.