The Hon. Fasmin Sharif

¶ 01 Thank you very much, Hon. Presiding Member.

¶ 02 We see this as a Budget that makes all people of this country happy. In the highlands, the power and popularity of President Comrade Anura Kumara Dissanayake are such that people even keep his photograph for worship. In the plantation Tamil areas replete with natural beauty, heritage, and culture, people are lighting firecrackers and celebrating this Budget in an unprecedented manner in plantation community history. As a representative from the highlands, I am doubly happy.

¶ 03 Within the next five years, this Budget aims to uplift the plantation people economically and guide change. For the first time through a Budget, the Government has proposed a Rs. 200 grant to estate workers. Their daily wage of Rs. 1,350 will rise with Rs. 200 from the companies and Rs. 200 from the Government, totaling Rs. 1,750. Working about 25 days a month, they could earn an extra Rs. 10,000 monthly. This is remarkable. We recall that during Ranil Wickremesinghe’s time, Minister Bandula Gunawardana said even a five percent wage hike for estate workers was impossible. Hence, only a stable government like the NPP can deliver such feasible measures.

¶ 04 To promote tourism in the highlands, two parks are planned under the BOI centered on Nuwara Eliya and Digan. These regions, rich with natural beauty, history, culture, and tourist sites, will contribute significantly to national income through tourism; this Budget will strengthen that. Likewise, Ambuluwa in Gampola, a cultural hub, will be developed further.

¶ 05 Sri Lanka must service significant debt. Without falling back into that burden, by containing inflation and developing education and technology to meet the modern world, this Budget seeks to build a society that can face the world. For health, Rs. 654 billion has been allocated. The Gampola Hospital will be developed at a cost of Rs. 400 million.

¶ 06 Overall, this is a solid Budget to rebuild a fallen nation, with clarifications provided. It has been presented as an inclusive Budget, covering all sides.

¶ 07 I also wish to highlight a special matter. Ms. Anoma Dilrukshi Jayaratne of Gampola—known as the “Iron Lady”—worked to return to the State, specifically to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, a property worth Rs. 1 billion that had been forcibly held by politicians. We should appreciate her here in Parliament. Even while her life was in danger, she contested and won against former Prime Ministers and Ministers, and has now handed that property back to the Ministry. We should be pleased and commend that Secretary as a State official.

¶ 08 Next, a Member said we are a racist government that gave nothing to Muslim MPs. We do not expect ministerial positions. What did former Ministers do? I represent Gampola. Under this Government, works worth about Rs. 2,000 million have already been carried out in that area. What did former Muslim Ministers do there? As far as I know, in Gampola they only built a small road or a Rs. 15 million road in 30-35 years those so-called national leaders were in Parliament. So remember: we are not a racist government. We did not ask for ministries. The Hon. President is ready to give us a ministry when needed, but we do not want portfolios. What we want is work done in Muslim areas to meet people’s expectations. It is the Opposition that craves ministries to do work, not us. We do not even need MP posts at minimum; our cadre and our grassroots actually do the work.

¶ 09 I also want to say something. Yesterday Hon. Namal Rajapaksa said our MPs come by bus. Yes, we are proud and happy. Look at what Opposition members do after a year as MPs—forget cabs, sometimes they would have a V8, by theft and corruption; sometimes even a helicopter. Our people do not steal a single rupee and won’t allow it.

¶ 10 You have two more minutes, Hon. Member.

¶ 11 Also, a Member said commissions were taken through onions and potatoes to Pelawatte. We do not take commissions from anyone or give to anyone. Do not think we are a people who steal.

¶ 12 Next, I must say this clearly. We are doing development work. They say we have done nothing. Even the road to the former Prime Minister’s house was built by us for Rs. 190 million. We will do many more works ahead.

¶ 13 Another matter: recently there is a campaign regarding the Qur’an. There is a false propaganda among the Muslim community that those Qur’an copies are to be sent to India. As a Government, we have never decided to send Qur’an copies to India.

¶ 14 I also wish to stress: we must protect the dignity of this Parliament. Some MPs use words I cannot even repeat—calling others “dogs,” using filthy language, insulting women. Hon. Presiding Member, please take urgent action against this; otherwise the dignity of Parliament will be lost. What we say here is broadcast live; the public hear it; children hear it; schoolchildren hear it. Frankly, I entered politics inspired by the speeches of our Hon. Minister Samantha Vidyaratna and of His Excellency President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. But hearing this kind of speech makes one not even want to come into politics. There are a few MPs doing this—action must be taken.

¶ 15 Hon. Presiding Member, we do not spread racism. Consider this: on the 20th there is a meeting by the Opposition. I specifically ask the Muslim MPs of the SJB—will you attend that meeting? Those people burned our Muslim mosques and bodies; do you approve of that? They tore off our abayas, pulled off our caps. Do you from the SJB approve and will you attend the Opposition’s joint meeting? Let someone here answer.

¶ 16 Thank you very much.