The Hon. Ruwan Wijeweera

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chair, even as our country faces severe internal tremors, we debate today the Central Bank’s report on the economic victories achieved in 2025 and the work program taking the country forward. I wish to respond to several points raised today.

¶ 02 Some said we are wearing others’ clothes—claiming prior reserves of around USD 6 billion in 2024. Consider how they accumulated that: by not servicing debt, by severely restricting imports, by freezing development, and stalling job creation—turning the country into a standstill. Under that environment, you can “automatically” show USD 6 billion using such controls.

¶ 03 What did we do with USD 6 billion in 2025? We transformed a stagnated economy into a moving one. We expanded domestic activity; resumed debt servicing; lifted import restrictions; reopened as an importing and producing economy; and created tens of thousands of jobs, identifying gaps and systematically filling them.

¶ 04 For years, not even a road was constructed. Under our development program we restarted expressways. Even counting only the import bill, it adds about USD 5 billion. Had we followed Ranil Wickremesinghe’s path, we could have built USD 12 billion in reserves. We did not. Based on the people’s mandate, we adopted a different, more people‑centred path. The IMF predicted 3.5 per cent growth; we are bringing it to around 5 per cent, taking different, democratic steps rather than Ranil’s.

¶ 05 The Opposition Leader says we did nothing we promised. You know what country we inherited and in what condition. Let me quote from the “Sanduda Hamuwa” feature of Lankadeepa of 18.05.2026:

¶ 06 “The 2022 crisis was not merely a foreign exchange shortage, a debt crisis, or the result of mismanagement decisions. It must also be read as the product of a long‑built system of corruption, unaccountable power networks, inefficient processes, and a governance culture where the law was selectively applied.”

¶ 07 We changed a politicized, corrupt, lawless system that was nurtured—not reformed—by Wickremesinghe. We have built a disciplined state governed by the rule of law. For example, Sri Lanka’s Corruption Perceptions Index rank fell from 52 in 2002 to 93 in 2019, 94 in 2023, and 121 in 2024. After we took office, within a year we improved it to 107, laying a foundation to move from tribalism to a disciplined state.

¶ 08 Building a production economy cannot be done overnight or in a year; it needs a systematic program. Within the Industry Ministry, everything has been set in motion. Agriculture had been destroyed with the false claim there was no fertilizer. I spoke to our District Agriculture Director: for this Yala season, 12,053 hectares were cultivated; 10,970 hectares are recorded in the system; fertilizer support has been paid for 9,394 hectares. Yet they say fertilizer hasn’t been given.

¶ 09 The Opposition Leader went to Buttala and staged a drama saying fertilizer support had not been received. But even the person speaking from the field had received it. Get data from the correct places—the Department of Agrarian Development—not from where it suits you. He should have gone two kilometres further to Gonaganara to see houses half‑built and abandoned during his time as Housing Minister—of 50 proposed, only around 10 stand, with people suffering. He should have spoken about what he started and left.

¶ 10 Leadership is not about offices held, but how one guides people in crises. Look at India’s Prime Minister during a severe global crisis—he said “Nation first,” asking people to work from home, reduce fuel use, avoid gold purchases for a year, use public transport, shift to organic fertilizers, and limit foreign travel for a year—even with USD 700 billion in reserves—because of global uncertainty and geopolitics.

¶ 11 Hon. Marikkar compared to 1990 under Premadasa. But the world’s geopolitical and socio‑economic context has changed over four decades. Our respectful request to the Opposition: responsible leadership is the most important thing, nothing else. So we say to the Opposition, you have to act, work and behave responsibly, not only in Parliament but outside as well.

¶ 12 Thank you.