The Hon. (Mrs.) Hasara Liyanage, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, we received with great distress a report from Anuradhapura General Hospital—just two days after International Women’s Day. The Ministries of Public Security, Justice, and Health—and all of us as a Government—must act to rectify such issues. We will conduct all necessary investigations properly and ensure justice for her and for all women.

¶ 02 Today we debate the expenditure heads of two vital ministries in the 2025 Budget presented by the National People’s Power Government: the Ministry of Digital Economy and the Ministry of Science and Technology. As a nation, we missed the 20th century. India, which gained independence alongside us, is today reaching the moon; this shows how far behind we are technologically. Our people are now ready for change. The primary task of Government is to establish the foundation to grasp that missed century.

¶ 03 A key problem is that Sri Lanka has lacked a coherent state policy and vision for science and technology. Previously, “science and technology policy” meant fanciful notions like launching rockets for Presidents’ sons. We need a real policy. Under the Ministry of Science and Technology, there are 12 core institutions. In the past, many of these were scattered under other ministries, often Education, with no scientific linkage or coordination between them. First, we are working to create proper coordination across these institutions—this is essential structural reform.

¶ 04 As Acemoglu and Robinson note in “Why Nations Fail,” when a nation’s institutions fail, the state machinery collapses and overall functionality breaks down. Practically, citizens suffer when institutions are uncoordinated: for a simple registration or a patent, people are sent from place to place, wasting time. Though many officials do their best, lack of inter-agency coordination undermines efficiency. Therefore, bringing these institutions under a coherent structure is a key step we are taking.

¶ 05 Some Opposition Members who ridicule science betray their own understanding. If we are to build a productive economy, we must connect rural communities to that vision—taking investment to villages and empowering them. We have allocated funds to these institutions to commercialize research outcomes and deliver benefits to the grassroots—moving from the laboratory to the marketplace. We are strengthening NERDC with Rs. 518 million to support small and medium industries, and the NSF with Rs. 661 million to drive implementation and diffusion of research benefits to the people.

¶ 06 As a woman, I must stress STEM education. To overcome fear of technology, science, and digitalization, we must strengthen STEM from school and university levels. Although about 49 percent of university STEM students are women, their entry into the science-and-technology labour market is about 20 percent lower; we are addressing this sensitively through this Budget.

¶ 07 This is our first-year Budget, covering eight months, laying the foundation under the Ministry of Science and Technology to lift the country. If we have the right policy, empower the state machinery to implement it, build the mechanisms to take policy to the grassroots, and ensure sustainability, that is true science—and this Budget reflects that foundation.

¶ 08 Thank you.