The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna

¶ 01 I will conclude quickly, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

¶ 02 People died in queues during your time. I am not speaking about those queues now. Look at Karapitiya, Colombo, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa—there are long queues in hospitals for heart bypass surgeries; people have to wait years and some die. This is a humanitarian Budget. Thinking from the people’s side, addressing social issues, we have allocated Rs. 12,000 million to establish a new multi-storey modern cardiac center for heart surgeries this year with initial funding. We are providing funds to solve social problems. During their time, they solved their own problems; today we are acting differently.

¶ 03 When we create 75,000 jobs and increase the allowance of railway level-crossing gatekeepers—something past governments could not do—some will be hurt; nothing can be done about that. Finally, I want to tell the people of this country this: as this journey is proceeding well, please support it, bless it, and strengthen it. Do not pull legs and try to sabotage. In history, there were those who hurled stones even at the Buddha; similarly, there are those who throw stones at a government that is moving on a good path and try to drag it down. When the law is enforced against corruption and narcotics, some feel pain because their nourishments dry up. When the underworld is trampled, their power and existence fade. That is what is happening.

¶ 04 Hon. Deputy Speaker, a small verse says: “When the best things lay before you, they were missed— Do not miss again—Even after seeing the Buddha, one could not proceed straight to the Sacred Tooth.”

¶ 05 Therefore, I tell the people: there are stone-throwers, bucket-throwers, leg-pullers, but stand strong with this Government. We will assuredly deliver a prosperous country and a better life to our people. I reaffirm that message and conclude.

¶ 06 Thank you very much.