The Hon. Shantha Padma Kumara Subasingha

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, this is our Government’s second Budget, and the second presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake as Minister of Finance. The Opposition has been rendered so bereft that their speakers now read newspapers here; once, they were skilled debaters. Some even turn every speech into a wail, as if at a funeral house: “Anura, what have you done to us?” Now they are in disarray.

¶ 02 Earlier today, a Member who once said we had no experience and even formed a new party now admits—with a prick of conscience—that the Treasury will post surpluses in the trillions. We need not even say it; they say it. Our core crisis was the lack of rupees and dollars. Now some praise Ranil after once vilifying him, because their new party is collapsing. We accept that by early 2024 there was some improvement. But the economic body was fractured; a slight tremor could have returned us to 2020–21. President Anura and our Government carefully, methodically, and with discipline have now stabilized and strengthened the economy. That is why even the Opposition mutters that the Treasury has trillions and reserves are at US$6.3 billion, likely to cross US$7 billion soon. FDI is returning; transparency boosts remittances; the stock market is on a historic rise. Exports are up. In under a year, we have strengthened the economy and presented a formidable second Budget that leaves the Opposition speechless.

¶ 03 On recruitments, Cabinet on 2025-09-15 approved 68,441 appointments to the public service, of which 10,711 are graduates; on 2025-10-27 a further 8,541—making 76,982 recruitments this year. These are through proper applications and interviews—no backdoor notes. In the 2026 Budget, a further 75,000 recruitments are provided.

¶ 04 On sending top A/L performers to world-class universities, applications were called; 600 received, 108 interviewed, and 32 selected so far for institutions like National University of Singapore and University of Sydney.

¶ 05 On the “goods basket” promised in April, the Election Commission ruled it would be an election inducement, so we stopped it. Now, from 20 to 31 December, a Rs. 5,000 basket will be provided to 288,000 pregnant mothers.

¶ 06 Electricity tariffs were reduced by 30% and later adjusted up by 18%; with ongoing reforms, further reductions will follow. Fuel prices are also lower than when we assumed office—by over Rs. 38.

¶ 07 On public service pensions, the 2016 contributory scheme introduced then has been reversed; pensions are restored for all, via gazette. Further, 9,800 temporary/contract/replacement staff will be made permanent. For principals and hardship-area teachers, and for public servants generally, pay increases are provided: part from January 2026, the balance from January 2027; Rs. 110 billion is allocated this year toward a total cost of Rs. 330 billion. Disaster and property loan relief is also being improved.

¶ 08 Most importantly, for our plantation workers—long-suffering, silent, working in harsh conditions—wages are increased historically by Rs. 10,000 per month, i.e., Rs. 400 per day for 25 days. This is why people revere President Anura—because he cared for them.

¶ 09 For Ratnapura’s perennial floods, Rs. 500 million is allocated for studies toward solutions. On the Ruwanpura Expressway, an initial Rs. 1,500 million is set aside to commence the Kahathuduwa–Ingiriya section. Old state quarters in historic Ratnapura town will be relocated, and new quarters built in the new town. The long-stalled Ruwanpura Railway has Rs. 840 million in 2026, after Rs. 250 million last year, to restart work.

¶ 10 This Budget is well-designed—like a fine house plan. The Opposition searches for “salt and coconut” in the kitchen to fault it. I support this excellent 2026 Budget. Thank you.