The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, this is a very important Budget. Consider the context: our country has emerged from bankruptcy and can now breathe. Corruption, fraud, waste, maladministration, and a flawed political culture were root causes of our crisis.

¶ 02 The President’s Budget presents a balanced approach. Past Budgets pushed the country toward bankruptcy or imposed unbearable taxes. This Budget, however, curtails the previous luxurious lifestyles of politicians, abolishes vehicle permits, and introduces proper checks and balances—prioritizing the people’s lives. Notably, this includes the largest recent pay rise for public servants. I do not know why the Opposition cannot appreciate that, or the benefits for orphans and many others.

¶ 03 The Budget prioritizes digitalization. Weeks before the Budget, we began this process in earnest: decentralizing the President’s Fund to Divisional Secretariats; enabling consular services digitally at missions, High Commissions, and consular offices; and launching GovPay. The Budget further advances technology with clear room for progress.

¶ 04 I have reviewed numerous documents related to this Budget. We have long argued that our political culture pushed the country over the cliff. Now that this Government—led by the NPP—is changing that culture, some are upset. Consider just a few examples from past foreign trips of former Presidents:

¶ 05 - Official Visit of the President to India on 8–9 February 2013: A 2‑day visit with a total entourage of 72. The official delegation had 12; an additional delegation of 11; five ladies-in-attendance; one medical staff; advance security teams from the Army and Police; more accompanying security; personal aides; media personnel; and a separate list for the First Lady, including Air Force, Army, and Police security. The total cost was around Rs. 9.54 million at the then exchange rate—a very large sum at that time.

¶ 06 - 2013, New York: 83 traveled—President, First Lady and MPs (11); additional delegation (31); security (28); media (13). Whose money paid for this?

¶ 07 - 2018, United States: 77 traveled—President, First Lady and MPs (9); delegation (28); protocol (2); security (13); media (25). Total cost around Rs. 50.4 million.

¶ 08 We are changing this political culture. Another key reform is abolishing duty-free vehicle permits. Those permits became a vehicle for “blank cheque corruption,” with permits transferred to others on day one. Historically, duty-free permits existed but were non-transferable for a period. Later, transferable permits were issued. Some now in the Opposition front benches were on those lists. Such practices are unacceptable. We are changing them. If we are to move forward as a nation, reforms are essential, and we have begun by cutting our own privileges. All Government MPs are committed to self-restraint. The Budget includes many such measures.

¶ 09 Some claimed the Eastern Province received no priority. That is incorrect. Let me list items in the Budget for the East and North-East:

¶ 10 - Trincomalee Campus – Rs. 450 million - Construction of ETU buildings for Trincomalee and Ampara Hospitals – Rs. 600 million (Rs. 300 million each) - Construction of quay at dockyard, Trincomalee – Rs. 1,500 million - Building at Swami Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies, Batticaloa – Rs. 300 million - Cardiology unit with cath lab at DGH Ampara – Rs. 200 million - Rehabilitation/Improvement of Ampara–Uhana–Mahaoya–Chenkaladi Junction Road - Rehabilitation/Improvement of Lunugala–Bibila Road – Rs. 2,714 million - 1,000 rainwater harvesting tanks in Northern, North‑Central, North‑Western Provinces and Ampara District – Rs. 50 million - Completing resettlement of persons displaced due to the conflict in the Northern and Eastern Provinces with 6,759 housing units – Rs. 3,500 million - Preparation of master plans for development in Eastern and Western Provinces and Hambantota District – Rs. 215 million - Fisheries community development in Northern and Eastern Provinces – Rs. 50 million - Building complex for Faculty of Health Care Sciences, Eastern University – Rs. 2,400 million - Development of infrastructure and research facilities in Eastern University of Sri Lanka – Rs. 250 million - Development of infrastructure and research facilities in South Eastern University of Sri Lanka – Rs. 400 million - Completion of sports stadium, Kalmunai – Rs. 150 million