The Hon. (Mrs.) Deepthi Wasalage

¶ 01 [4.38 p.m.]

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, before addressing the Regulations under Act No. 1 of 1969, I wish to recall some Opposition statements today. In 2019, a media owner who once staged a farce by presenting a snake in a plastic bottle from the Kelani River, and whipped up hysteria from children to elders—does he have standing to lecture our children on discipline? A former President said here this country is bankrupt and no development project could be undertaken until 2048—we remember that too. Another Member tried to inflame communalism among our Muslim citizens using the Israel–Palestine issue. Yet another asked whether we dare go among three-wheeler drivers and ordinary people. All NPP Ministers and MPs here move among the public without security, receiving no hostility, only kindness. This is the political culture we promised: no divide between the people’s representative and the citizen.

¶ 03 Why are we discussing such Regulations today? Because theft, corruption, and mismanagement drove our economy to the bottom in 2020—bankruptcy. The authorities then restricted vehicle imports, which hurt tourism inflows of foreign exchange. In 2024, we relaxed to allow 1,000 vehicles for tourist transport. Despite Opposition alarms, after the NPP formed the Government in 2024, by December 2024 and January 2025 we were able to lift the broader restrictions for vehicle imports. Today’s Regulation concerns extending the deadline for releasing vehicles for tourism from June 30, 2025 to September 30, 2025, due to technical delays.

¶ 04 We have clearly explained that the economy is stabilizing swiftly—not just our view, but that of analysts. Some criticized the President for reading from a text. I invite the Opposition to carefully listen to his speech. I felt proud: for the first time in our history a President spoke with compassion about our people, our children’s hunger, and education. We have increased student allowances, enhanced Mahapola, and granted Rs. 6,000 for books for poor students. In 2023 and 2024, 60 top A/L performers from each of the 25 districts received Rs. 1 million each from the President’s Fund—reoriented away from politicization to true public need. We are proud of that.

¶ 05 All 159 NPP Ministers and MPs stand with the President to eradicate poverty and place the country on a development path, to make Sri Lanka a prosperous nation and ensure beautiful lives for our people.