The Hon. (Dr.) Janaka Senarathna

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, the so-called experienced, mature, traditional economic “masters” presented 78 budgets and ruled for 77 years. Now, in our 80th Budget for 2026, the estimated total expenditure is Rs. 8,980 billion. Of this, about half—Rs. 4,495 billion, or 50 percent—must be allocated to debt service in 2026. The remaining Rs. 4,485 billion, or 50 percent, is for primary expenditure. Of total expenditure, 22 percent goes to salaries and pensions; 13 percent to other recurrent costs; thus only about 15 percent is left for capital expenditure. Why must we devote 50 percent to debt service? Because those “experienced” rulers took loans and engaged in theft, waste, and even narcotics trafficking as a subculture of their politics, without any regard to the people, resources, endowments, or realities of the country. The people changed that situation at the last election.

¶ 02 In our Budget, health receives 7.2 percent of total expenditure—Rs. 654 billion—and education Rs. 704 billion, or 7.8 percent. Together, health and education get 15 percent. For a people-friendly public service, 4.5 percent—Rs. 411 billion—is allocated.

¶ 03 Of the Rs. 654 billion for health: Rs. 43.4 billion for hospital development; Rs. 363.3 billion for hospital operations; Rs. 187.7 billion for uninterrupted medical supplies and equipment; Rs. 12.9 billion for Triposha and nutrition programs; Rs. 10.4 billion for disease prevention; and Rs. 1.3 billion for health research and development.

¶ 04 For capacity development of health staff to deliver higher-quality services, Rs. 24.9 billion is allocated. For the “Suvaseriya” service, Rs. 4.2 billion is allocated. Among special projects, Rs. 870 million is allocated in 2026 to upgrade the cardiology, oncology, and paediatric units of the Ratnapura Hospital. For primary healthcare promotion and development, Rs. 8 billion is allocated.

¶ 05 Of total expenditure, 3 percent—Rs. 292 billion—is for health sector salaries and allowances. After about eight years, we managed through the last Budget to give a salary increase to public servants—the second tranche in January 2026 and the third in January 2027. Yet that alone does not resolve all pay issues. Hence the proposal in this Budget to establish a National Pay Commission which, considering sectoral specifics, will within one to two years harmonize disparities and create a satisfying pay structure for the entire public service.

¶ 06 I take this opportunity to thank our dear public servants who, despite the deeply corrupt politics of decades past, did not absorb that corruption into themselves, and who continue to serve under severe resource constraints, providing uninterrupted services to the people. As someone who served 15 years in health, I extend respectful thanks to specialists, doctors, nurses, and all cadres who deliver 24/7 services. We will, with the Pay Commission, rectify their salary and allowance disparities—have no doubt.

¶ 07 About 2,700 construction works in state institutions were abandoned or left midway. We will bring them under public-private partnership to complete.

¶ 08 To build a productive economy: Rs. 3,000 million to complete MILCO’s Badalgama dairy plant; Rs. 1,300 million to develop fisheries harbours; Rs. 5,000 million to revive Thriposha. For a national laboratory network to monitor antimicrobial resistance, Rs. 150 million, plus another Rs. 150 million to strengthen the program.

¶ 09 To provide a better life for youths raised in probationary homes, Rs. 2 million per house is allocated—Rs. 2,000 million in total. Rs. 200 million for initial works of the 16-storey National Cardiac Unit. For expressways and roads, Rs. 324 billion (Rs. 32,400 million per hundred) is allocated. For the Ratnapura District Ruwanpura Expressway: Rs. 1,500 million in 2026; Rs. 1,000 million in 2027; and Rs. 1,000 million in 2028. Rs. 1,500 million next year is allocated for land acquisition.

¶ 10 Your allotted time is over, Hon. Member.

¶ 11 Please grant me 30 seconds, Hon. Presiding Member.

¶ 12 Rs. 250 million is allocated for a feasibility study to extend the Kelani Valley railway line from Avissawella; Rs. 250 million for flood management through dry dams in Ratnapura. Rs. 500 million for initial works of official housing for public servants in the New Town. In this way, under “Prosperous Country – Beautiful Life,” across all sectors and all groups, spanning the whole country, we have presented a very successful Budget.

¶ 13 Thank you.