The Hon. (Mrs.) Oshani Umanga

¶ 01 Presiding Member, at a time when the country had fallen into economic, social, and cultural darkness and bankruptcy, the Maliyamawa Government has presented its maiden Budget as the first step towards a prosperous nation. We hoped the Opposition would bring constructive proposals and critiques; instead we mostly heard laments—proving how strong this Budget is.

¶ 02 They say we presented the same Budget the previous Government was to present. We are only three months in, and yet we have presented a visionary, cross-cutting program as a first step. This is a people’s political movement: leaders, public officials, and the people crafting national policy together.

¶ 03 Even while unwell I heard people in a pharmacy praising this Budget as the first of its kind—because the President, Prime Minister, Ministers, and MPs have cut their own privileges for the people. This is a vision-driven Budget and the people understand it.

¶ 04 We have provided strong salary increases for public servants—raising not only basic pay, but also EPF, ETF, gratuity, and retirement-linked benefits. For the first time, estate sector and private sector wages are being raised through tripartite consensus with employers. In the past, such across-the-board adjustments were not made.

¶ 05 We have also focused on often-ignored groups: children with disabilities, destitute parents, orphans, marginalized communities, prisoners, and children with autism.

¶ 06 We saw how schoolchildren suffered malnutrition; teachers even checked lunchboxes and found meagre meals or none at all. Some parents took their own lives, unable to feed children; 14% of parents themselves went hungry to feed their children; one in three children was undernourished. This Budget seeks to move us, step by step, to prosperity.

¶ 07 Rs. 32.1 billion is allocated for the school nutrition program; Rs. 0.95 billion for preschool children’s morning meals; Rs. 1.4 billion for sanitary pads for schoolgirls—addressing sensitive days for girls. Rs. 2.5 billion will provide footwear to students in difficult and non-difficult schools and piriven. Rs. 200 million is set aside for joint scholarship programs with other countries so our students can gain the skills, attitudes, technology, and innovation knowledge to compete globally and bring it back to share here.

¶ 08 We also allocate Rs. 0.5 billion to relieve those who pawned their gold during hardship. Entrepreneurship is crucial—yet only about 2.8% are entrepreneurs; people fear risk amid many barriers. Therefore, we provide Rs. 99 billion for economic and service entrepreneurship and Rs. 2.4 billion to attract investment. Previously, “Mr. Ten Per Cent” reputations drove investors away. Now, with rebranding, anti-corruption commitment, and regained international confidence, projects have resumed and new industrial zones are funded (Rs. 1.5 billion) while improving infrastructure in 32 existing zones.

¶ 09 We will digitize processes to end file-chasing for deeds and approvals. For industrial promotion we allocate Rs. 7.9 billion; for SME development Rs. 38.6 billion; and Rs. 6.8 billion for SME credit schemes. Banks typically ask for asset security; we will provide project-based loan support mechanisms.

¶ 10 We also fund national village empowerment and Samurdhi beneficiary empowerment—teaching people to fish rather than just giving fish, strengthening both households and the economy. With the blessings of thousands of citizens, we present this Budget for a “Prosperous Country – Beautiful Life” and hope even the Opposition will set aside lamentations and support it. Thank you.