The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, we listened to the speeches by government ministers regarding the Central Bank’s Annual Economic Review for last year. From the way they spoke, the economy should today be very strong and the people should feel it. We ask whether the people actually feel what you claim.

¶ 02 Under the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government, the country went bankrupt and they were unable to control the value of the dollar. I see a similar situation now. The dollar rate in the morning is not what it is in the evening. Around this time last month, the dollar was Rs. 318. This afternoon it is Rs. 346, and we hear it may change again by evening. That is the performance of this government. Managing an economy means managing the dollar and strengthening the rupee. The darkest period of the Gotabaya era has now returned.

¶ 03 You said you increased revenue. You came saying you would build a production economy. But what have you done? You have piled tax upon tax, making it impossible for people to live.

¶ 04 I recall that during the Yahapalana government we raised the salaries of university academics—most of whom back you now—by threefold; also threefold in the judicial service; and we increased all public servants’ pay by at least 107 per cent. What have you done since? You are only collecting more taxes from that. You promised to reduce VAT and prices. Instead, you increased prices.

¶ 05 When you came to power, a gas cylinder was Rs. 3,690; now it’s near Rs. 5,000. A kilo of dhal was Rs. 320; now Rs. 440. Big onions were Rs. 110; now Rs. 160. Chilies were Rs. 900; now Rs. 1,250. Sprats were Rs. 750; now Rs. 1,200. Milk powder was increased by Rs. 125 today. If the economy was fixed, people should feel it.

¶ 06 In 1977, J.R. Jayewardene carried out agricultural and industrial revolutions. I ask the JVP/NPP government—nearly two years have passed—name a single factory you started, a tank you built, any real project you completed. Now you boast that reserves are near USD 7 billion. But when you came in, reserves were around USD 6 billion; you are trying to take credit for others’ work.

¶ 07 Twenty-four per cent of our population are farmers. In our districts, you said 5 kg fetch Rs. 1,200, yet in our area 8 kg go for Rs. 90. Farmers cannot survive. Last season one acre of paddy cost Rs. 20,000 for fertilizer; now it’s Rs. 30,000. You say fertilizer is available, but in villages you cannot even find a packet in a shop. In the market, fertilizer costs Rs. 17,000-18,000. At this rate, you will not be able to visit the villages. I ask the Agriculture Minister and State Minister to actually go to a paddy field like before.

¶ 08 Politics and administration are now mixed up. Previously, trained officers ran administration. Today, secretaries to the top three ministries are people who spoke from the JVP platform. The Presidential Secretary was on the JVP stage; the Defence Ministry Secretary likewise; the Finance Ministry Secretary is a former Deputy Minister from this Parliament. Administration has been politicized; officials fear to act. The President is compelled to say: “I will watch you; nothing is being done.” The country is collapsing; nothing is happening. Of the capital allocations in last year’s Budget, less than 50 per cent was spent—actually funds were not even available. Where is the country heading?

¶ 09 Under Yahapalana, Hon. Gayantha Karunathilaka and I were Cabinet Ministers; poverty was at 4 per cent then. Now you do not know your policies—whether socialist, Ranil Wickremesinghe’s or J.R. Jayewardene’s. Over 25 per cent are now below the poverty line. Farmers are the most destitute. In 1994, agriculture’s share of GDP was 21 per cent; now it is 8 per cent. Most of those below the poverty line are in rural areas—farmers. You cannot protect the farmer. Ministers claim banks have funds for fertilizer, but villages say banks have not received money. Paddy and other production will inevitably fall this year.

¶ 10 Fuel prices: due to the coal fraud, billions are spent daily; because of substandard coal, we are forced to generate power using diesel power plants, consuming about 7 million litres. You promised to reduce electricity bills by one-third; instead, they are up by about 60 per cent.

¶ 11 Last May, diesel was Rs. 274 per litre; now Rs. 392. Petrol was Rs. 293; now Rs. 410. Where is the control? In Japan diesel is 150 yen—about Rs. 300.

¶ 12 You opened up vehicle imports and now keep increasing taxes. Corruption is soaring. John Keells and allied companies supportive of you opened LCs for 4,000 vehicles before you raised taxes. Such things never happened before. That is why we say, “When liars are scarce, thieves abound; when thieves are scarce, liars abound.” Those who came calling others liars are now engaging in thefts themselves.

¶ 13 You cannot manage the country or economy. The dollar is like a kite cut loose. The Finance Minister is clueless. The Central Bank Governor says the future is uncertain—what will the people think after that?

¶ 14 Some countries now deny visas to our citizens since your government came—Europe, Japan, the UK—even a Minister cannot go.

¶ 15 On Ranaviru Day, the President said there would not be another war. How do we know that? In the LTTE war, many died. One Minister even said, “We cannot commemorate soldiers.” We remember what was done to our soldiers and police. Those ruling today are old JVP cadres, not new university recruits. With such people running the country, how will the world trust us? We say: stop lying and give the people real relief.

¶ 16 Thank you.