The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera

¶ 01 Thank you for the opportunity to express views in this debate on the highly successful second Budget of the National People’s Power. Hon. Deputy Speaker, ensuring that every Sri Lankan enjoys a good quality of life is at the core of our vision; this Budget is designed to make that a reality. With a policy focus, building a free, prosperous, and good Sri Lanka, and calibrating decisions taken over the past year for the road ahead, we have presented this Budget.

¶ 02 Over decades, previous governments took short-sighted, harmful, anti-people, and wrong economic decisions, which heavily burdened the people.

¶ 03 Hon. Deputy Speaker, we have seen what previous regimes practised: destructive economic policies, weak tax administration, tax benefits to cronies, inefficiency and corruption—from State down to ground level. Tax evasion was tolerated. But we, as stated clearly in our manifestos, believe citizens’ quality of life and social-cultural development depend on correct economic policies, which we have consistently practised.

¶ 04 Previously, we constantly heard of the Central Bank robbery, grand corruption rings, sugar scam, garlic scam, hedging deals, MiG deals, substandard drugs, and antigen frauds. Those regimes became known for such things. In contrast, we planned with discipline and public consciousness, and prepared a people-centric Budget. While they were engaged in such deeds, we came to work. Therefore, with this Budget we will work through the coming year—designated the “Year of Work”—and demonstrate results.

¶ 05 The people’s mandate we received was full of expectations. From the moment we received it, we worked to stabilize the macroeconomy and ensure fiscal discipline. Without discipline, nothing can be done. Our foremost belief is in protecting fiscal discipline and strengthening State institutions that had been rendered inefficient. We put a stop to corruption, elevated transparency, and ensured accountability. We embarked on broad reforms; the outcomes are reflected in this Budget, as the President clearly set out on the 7th.

¶ 06 Economic growth also requires law and order. To regain confidence for growth, we prioritized and focused on establishing law and order alongside economic measures. Previously, there was a lawless, partisan culture. Ensuring rule of law was difficult because past governments bent the law to their policies. Therefore, we first made independent the institutions that ensure rule of law—especially the Police and security forces—freeing them from political control. Our crackdown on narcotics and organized crime has strongly underpinned economic stability. Under our “Prosperous Country – Better Life” concept, we do what we say.

¶ 07 Accordingly, having planned over the past year to implement our policy platform step by step, we could present such a successful Budget. Building a successful economy requires restoring confidence in security. Narcotics trafficking and organized crime had become a major threat to growth. Curbing drug trafficking is not easy; it is a professional task requiring a strategic approach. We implemented that over time and you can see it unfolding—even this morning, a large drug consignment was seized off Kirinda. To establish a stable economy, a strategic, coordinated mechanism and law and order are a must. We implemented that, and a secure environment is emerging; our foremost strategic concern has been restoring the rule of law.

¶ 08 Therefore, we continue the nationwide “United as One” operation launched on the 6th. In this Budget, we propose Rs. 1,500 million for drug control programs involving all sectors. Last year, we saw outcomes: this year alone, operations seized about 20,000 kilograms of drugs—no small amount. If those had remained, they would have seriously impacted governance and peace. Modernizing the public service, its efficiency and integrity, contributes vitally to the national economy and service delivery. The public service had been rendered ineffective; over the past year, we systematized it and, with all segments’ participation, came to this Budget. Public servants contributed greatly, aligning with our policy, to take the country forward as a prosperous nation. This Budget reflects one part of that effort. Our expectation—and the people’s—is that a dignified, results-oriented public service contributes effectively to the economy. Therefore, funds are allocated to build public trust, recognize the importance of the service, and regularize recruitment.

¶ 09 We have also allocated significant funds to enhance digital access across government institutions to modernize and make the public service efficient and dignified for citizens.

¶ 10 Additionally, we have allocated substantial funds to provide required vehicles and machinery to State institutions, including local authorities. The Government will also settle its contributions for interest granted on people’s savings accounts, and we have allocated funds to establish a Wages and Pensions Commission to address salary and pension issues in the State sector and manage administration. We have provided Rs. 20,000 million for the second phase of State sector salary increases.

¶ 11 There are many temporary, casual, substitute, contract, and concessionary-based employees in government service. Past governments did not implement a proper regularization process. Without regular appointments, they were paid and used to do work. Currently, about 9,800 such employees are in service. Past governments did nothing for them. In the military alone, over 3,000 await regularization. We have allocated significant funds for this in the Budget. Considering their importance and contribution, the National People’s Power Government has decided to regularize approximately 9,800 such employees. Through modernization of the public service, we aim to build a dignified service that fulfills the public’s expectations. These allocations are justified as they contribute to performance, integrity, and national security.