The Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, we are debating the Central Bank’s Annual Economic Review 2025. We see many sectors collapsing.

¶ 02 On the dollar: today it was Rs. 343 in the morning and Rs. 346 by afternoon; tomorrow who knows? A year and a half ago under the Ranil Wickremesinghe–Rajapaksa government, the dollar was around Rs. 272. Now it has sharply changed. As the dollar rises, prices of all imports increase—affecting everyday essentials like lentils. The Deputy Minister of Tourism said arrivals increased; true, numbers may be up, but 2018 had the best tourism earnings. Compared to pre-Easter levels, today’s earnings are billions lower. Numbers alone are meaningless; we need higher dollar inflows. With the rupee depreciating, who can say the economy is stable?

¶ 03 A Deputy Minister claimed they have stabilized the country. With the rupee weakening, is that stability? If unmanaged, people will face grave hardship—inevitable unless addressed—pushing the dollar to Rs. 350 and beyond. Focus on this urgently because it directly impacts living costs and inflation.

¶ 04 Meanwhile, public administration is also collapsing. Officials are afraid to act—after USD 2.5 million was remitted to a wrong account, the responsible official from Kuliyapitiya faced severe pressure, ultimately leading to tragedy affecting his vital functions. It is painful to recount. The government experiments and errs, and officials pay the price. Many are resigning or avoiding senior posts; this is not normal.

¶ 05 Regarding the “Ditva” cyclone: many were left destitute. How many houses have actually been built? In many districts, even land selection is incomplete months later. Understand this clearly—otherwise the people will suffer. Blaming the Opposition or the Opposition Leader achieves nothing. What matters is the government’s delivery on the ground. People voted for change amid hardship; today their expectations remain unmet.