The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, in this Budget Committee debate we consider the Expenditure Heads of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, and of Urban Development, Construction and Housing. We must consider how allocated funds are managed, to what they are directed, and the outcomes—some immediate, others long‑term.

¶ 02 For Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, the allocation is Rs. 487.5 million (contextually, billions across heads), with about 89–90 percent as capital expenditure—true investment—up by about 106 percent over last year, while total spending is up 6.8 percent. Capital outlays build infrastructure that supports growth. Key capital areas include acquiring new assets and maintaining/rehabilitating existing ones; about 74.4 percent goes there.

¶ 03 Within infrastructure, about 86 percent of capital is for road development nationwide as a network, not confined to one district. Some projects began earlier and must be managed and accelerated, while new ones are planned. We also face constraints like legacy debts not recorded as Treasury debt; this year, Rs. 66 billion of such old debt will be paid from capital allocations.

¶ 04 For expressways, Rs. 153.8 million is allocated. Funds are set for the Colombo–Ratnapura Road and the elevated link from the Kelani Bridge to Athurugiriya; Rs. 23,900 million for Ingurukade Junction to Port Access Road. The Central Expressway is decisive: we plan Kadawatha–Meerigama (37 km), Meerigama–Kurunegala (39 km), Potuhera–Rambukkana (12 km), and Kadawatha Interchange, with Rs. 122.4 billion prioritized. Rs. 4,500 million is allocated for two Pettah interchange centres.

¶ 05 Beyond highways, Rs. 31,500 million is for nationwide road maintenance, including flood‑damaged roads; Rs. 1,000 million for Baseline Road Phase 3; significant allocations for Peradeniya–Badulla–Chenkaladi, and for Ampara, Uhana, and Lunugala.

¶ 06 For network building, allocations cover Orugodawatta, Piliyandala–Maharagama development, 51 km in Uva with bridges, and alternative road systems—Rs. 15,000 million. Notably, under recurrent proposals, Rs. 9,000 million is provided for Northern and other provincial roads, and Rs. 18,080 million to rehabilitate 1,000 km of rural roads.

¶ 07 The much‑debated Vaddduvakal (Vattuvakal) Bridge gets Rs. 1,000 million—beyond physical development, it strengthens connectivity and addresses regional disparity by linking village and town.

¶ 08 For bridges, including rural and flyovers, Rs. 20,350 million is allocated. For road transport improvements, Rs. 2,465 million. For railway development, Rs. 11,775 million, including SLTB student season tickets—Rs. 11,500 million—for concessions; and for SLTB services on non‑profitable routes.

¶ 09 Funds are provided for port and airport development and for strengthening Sri Lanka Railways: operations and development, power, signalling upgrades, new tracks, and procurement of 160 coaches. Kelani Valley Railway rehabilitation is included. Significant allocations go to electrification and technology for the Department of Motor Traffic.

¶ 10 For the new Office of the Merchant Shipping Secretariat, we aim to position Sri Lanka as a maritime and trading hub: national trade promotion, maritime and port management, regulations, investment attraction, and business/maritime support services.

¶ 11 For the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, a substantial 2025 allocation: of Rs. 104 billion, Rs. 102 billion is capital. Rs. 14.8 million for urban development, Rs. 25 million for housing development, Rs. 54.6 billion for water supply and sanitation; and under the Department of State Enterprises, Rs. 58 billion more for water supply. These figures show clear prioritization of foundational infrastructure.

¶ 12 Thus, we can view this Budget positively: these two Ministries stand out for capital‑driven development. Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member.