The Hon. R. M. Gamini Rathnayake

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today we debate three regulations under the Special Commodity Levy Act, a motion under the Customs Ordinance, and two orders under the Motor Traffic Act.

¶ 02 On stabilizing the economy, step by step we have moved a fallen, near-bankrupt economy onto a disciplined, updated path. Despite repeated predictions from sections of the Opposition that the government would collapse in April, August, November, or December, we have laid a solid foundation and are progressing. Domestic and international institutions and experts now attest to this—not merely our claims.

¶ 03 Concrete benefits to people include: public sector salary increases without street agitations; private sector wage floors raised (from Rs. 21,500 to Rs. 30,000 minimum); estate workers’ daily wage increased from Rs. 1,350 to Rs. 1,750 despite protests from elements of the Opposition. We expanded social assistance and strengthened anti-corruption and asset recovery laws.

¶ 04 We cut privileges, including passing yesterday the law to remove MPs’ pensions, despite the Opposition’s outcry. Savings are being directed to citizens. We have also delivered relief to schoolchildren.

¶ 05 Inflation has been reduced from about 70 percent to near 2.1 percent. Growth is around 5.1 percent. Reserves and revenues have improved: 2024 state revenue was Rs. 4.9 trillion; for 2025 it has risen to Rs. 5.12 trillion. For the first time, Customs, Inland Revenue, and Excise have all exceeded targets. Worker remittances rose from USD 6.57 billion in 2024 to USD 8.7 billion by 2025. The stock market All-Share index rose from around 11,200 (Sept 2024) to 23,708 (Jan 2026), a historic surge. Exports rose from Rs. 1,628 billion in 2024 to Rs. 1,720 billion in 2025. Thus, we can pass benefits to the public by easing essential prices.