The Hon. Stefni Fernando

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, listening to the Opposition, one would think we did nothing this year. But before presenting next year’s Budget, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, as Minister of Finance, spent months engaging with businesspersons, doctors, professors, teachers, trade union leaders, estate leaders and economists to design this Budget and discuss implementation. Even for the 9-month budget of 2025, a similar program preceded it. With that Budget we began a forward journey. Everyone knows where we were, and now the country is regaining strength. This is a collective effort, not a one-man show like older budgets. This Budget was crafted by bringing society together—that is its success.

¶ 02 This is our country’s 80th Budget. By the end of its cycle, we know the pathway ahead. With the previous Budget and our program, we generated savings. We saved money because we did not waste it. We know how previous governments squandered funds. We protected and stabilized the economy while implementing Budget proposals. As a result, we are now receiving international recognition, and investors are coming. That is because we have shown the world stability. Next year, significant investors will arrive to a stable country. We have swiftly prepared land and infrastructure for them, and we have designed a program to treat every investor equally. In the past, investors were judged by “how much can we take from them,” which drove them away and brought us to this condition. Now we have set up a proper system so any investor can work here.

¶ 03 We have created special opportunities for innovation, which will, with public participation, strengthen the economy and build the job market. These are our achievements.

¶ 04 On the state machinery, it was weak. We are strengthening it. There were shortages of officers in Municipal and Pradeshiya Sabhas and Divisional Secretariats, due to past recruitment failures. We have begun recruiting necessary officers and are preparing the required cadres and foundations to implement programs at constituency and divisional levels. This is how you build a country.

¶ 05 An Opposition MP earlier said he did not want a vehicle, but initially they asked for permits instead. Those who asked for permits now say they do not want vehicles.

¶ 06 As we move to a production economy, we must give special opportunities to producers. New entrepreneurs are coming in, and existing producers must also engage. A country develops when its producers participate. We have already provided state-backed credit facilities and are providing necessary training. Programs to start SMEs are being conducted at constituency and district levels with state support, and banks are offering credit facilities.

¶ 07 This Budget represents all sectors. Many spoke of estate workers. They are part of us, not a separate group, and benefits of this Budget must reach them. For so long, no benefits went to them and no one attended to their plight; they live in deep poverty. We must look after them, and ensure everyone in this country has the right to live with dignity as we drive development.

¶ 08 Our railway gatekeepers render a great service, working rain or shine. For years no one looked into their welfare. We propose increasing their monthly allowance from Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 15,000 because we consider every worker.

¶ 09 We have also allocated funds to recruit public servants.

¶ 10 Thank you very much.