Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Member Ravi Karunanayake, please wait a bit. I have begun my speech.

¶ 02 Hon. Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to speak on the second day of the Second Reading debate of the Budget. The President recently launched the “Nation as One” National Operation programme with a major ceremony. Hon. Deputy Speaker, two days after the launch of the “Nation as One” programme against narcotics, the husband of the Peliyagoda Urban Council member was caught with heroin at Eppawala. Similarly, about a month ago, the daughter of Kumari Karunajeeva, a member of the National People’s Power in the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council, was also caught with heroin. Yet, to date, that member has not been removed. The Government has made no statement. Meanwhile, the IGP issued a circular dated 2025.11.05, instructing Deputy Inspectors General, Senior Superintendents, and OICs not to publish photos of suspects taken into custody and investigation details via social and other media. The IGP seems to have awakened only after the Peliyagoda UC member’s husband was caught with heroin.

¶ 03 What was done all this time? From the moment suspects were brought from abroad, disembarked from aircraft, and shown around the country—with handshakes, photos, media shows in Middeniya and other provinces—only after all that did the IGP think to issue this circular. As the Opposition, we regret issuing such a circular after having conducted those media spectacles. Also, the Peliyagoda member has still not been arrested. She has substantial assets; those must be examined. Likewise, nothing is being investigated regarding Kumari Karunajeeva of Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia. Check her bank accounts and assets. If others’ assets were frozen and accounts scrutinized, these too must be examined.

¶ 04 Before talking about the 2026 Budget, we must talk about the 2025 Budget. I have here the 2025 Budget Speech book read in this House by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Last time, he spoke for three hours, not four. In 2025, there were 57 budget proposals; of those, 28 have not been implemented—the result is zero. Twenty-nine are in progress. Capital expenditure performance stands at 24%. The President said the Budget deficit reduced compared to 2024 and 2025 because 75% of capital allocations were saved and due to revenue from vehicle imports of Rs. 80–90 billion. Therefore, the deficit could be brought down to 5.5%.

¶ 05 Regarding a 2025 proposal: Rs. 2,000 million was allocated for development under the Gal Oya, Rajanganaya, and Minneriya schemes. Rajanganaya is in Thambuttegama—President Anura Kumara’s area. Its progress is 17% though Rs. 2,000 million was allocated. In Anuradhapura city, Rs. 750 million was allocated for solid-waste management; progress is negative. For the Giribawa–Eppawala water project restart, funds were allocated; progress is negative. We checked progress with relevant institutions; I am not discussing other districts today.

¶ 06 The Budget also allocated Rs. 1,000 million for a New Year relief pack, boasting loudly, but no such pack was delivered. The New Year is over; another is coming. No relief pack reached the people—like the former Speaker’s so-called Japan letter lost in the tsunami; the pack is still missing. Nothing substantial was done under the previous Budget.

¶ 07 To the Trade Minister here: what has shown 100% progress in the last Budget? Rs. 20,000 million was given straight to SriLankan Airlines; a cheque was issued immediately; of course the progress shows 100%. How many people in our country have ever flown, or even seen the Airport? Rs. 20,000 million from people’s taxes were given to SriLankan last year. We have 14,500 GN divisions; if we divided that money, each division could have had Rs. 1.3 million for a water pipe or a culvert. The 100% “progress” comes from wage hikes, SriLankan funding, and other direct transfers—not from capital works, which are only 25%.

¶ 08 Next: Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe told the media that onions were overproduced. Minister, the Netherlands with 17.8 million people is the world’s second-largest agricultural exporter; they never tell farmers not to produce. You say we overproduced onions. The President was born at Galevela hospital, Dambulla area—onion-growing areas like Galewela, Matale, Dambulla. Today the President’s own village Andiyagala is in Kekirawa electorate; onions are grown there. Onion farmers are suffering; protests have spread across Dambulla, Matale, Galewela, Galnewa, Eppawala, and Kekirawa. They are on the streets.

¶ 09 Six months ago, during an Adjournment debate, I proposed an 18% duty when potatoes and onions are being harvested. That day, the Minister did not join; instead, a Deputy Minister with no clue answered. Now farmers have ringed Keppetipola and Dambulla markets; economic centres are encircled; farmers are out on the streets. Do not take this lightly. When we took matters lightly earlier, our houses were burnt, a Member in Nittambuwa was killed, and our homes were torched. Do not underestimate this. The Trade Minister plans a company called National Agri Market Services Limited to take over economic centres, which since 1999 have been under District Secretaries and Divisional Secretaries. You cannot strong-arm Dambulla traders. Business communities support funerals, weddings, medicines; angering them will paralyse progress. We know business—we have sold onions by the roadside and curry leaves in Bandarawela market. We tell the Government these things to prevent unnecessary problems.

¶ 10 If a step is wrong, step back. When people oppose, you cannot push through. Even Gotabaya, who came as a strongman, had to leave by the back gate and board a boat. Remember that. The Finance Ministry has not fully approved this company plan; do not push it for individual benefits.

¶ 11 On collateral-free loans: the President said loans worth Rs. 4,000 million were given without collateral. I have not met anyone who received such a loan; perhaps you have. If others’ assets were frozen, bank accounts probed, then apply the same standards widely. [Expunged as ordered by the Chair.]

¶ 12 Look at Polonnaruwa—whatever is said, Maithripala did much there; Hambantota was also developed; do not deny it. Cinnamon Life stands where once there were old buildings and a liquor company; large developments arose there. Yet when we speak for farmers, we are accused of foul language; nothing is resolved for onion and potato farmers.

¶ 13 The Minister says Rs. 1,000 million will solve this next year. It will not. Work together with the Agriculture Minister and our Deputy Minister. Three months before harvests, meet and decide on import duties and restrictions based on expected volumes. Traders call me before harvests to request tariffs be raised; they know timing. We say this not in anger—do not create daily crises.