The Hon. Jagath Manuwarna

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, listening to today’s speeches, I felt this: many say what we are doing is what they had planned to do; that their leaders had thought of this. Fine — if what you intended to do is being done by us, be happy. In my field — cinema, teledrama, theatre — sometimes it hurts when someone else produces a script you planned. But this is not a teledrama script; this is the Budget. Do not be upset.

¶ 02 I saw Hon. Harsha de Silva gleefully say the Treasury is overflowing, with around a trillion collected — unprecedented. Seeing his joy gave me happiness — and a twinge of fear. Some households don’t announce their valuables for fear of thieves. When the Opposition celebrates a bursting Treasury, we recall what was done to the Central Bank. So, while we welcome the joy, we also feel a little fear.

¶ 03 We presented Budgets for 2025 and 2026. The Opposition keeps saying they are unhappy with 2025 progress. We too do not have 100% satisfaction; no Budget in history achieved 100% progress. We are not competing with you; we compete with ourselves to spend development funds effectively. Since the 2025 Budget was passed only in March, there was little time to launch and implement projects; some delays are understandable.

¶ 04 The President’s speech on page 42, under “Modernization of the Public Service,” notes approval to recruit around 75,000 to the public service through proper procedures. Why? Because when you try to implement village-level projects, there are no Technical Officers, no engineers, no designers; projects get delayed and funds lapse. Recruitment will address that. We are moving development forward in stages, not all at once.

¶ 05 We will also enhance digital access in government institutions to overcome institutional lethargy and channel funds to villages. We will regularize appointments of certain staff to build their confidence and capacity to deliver. Let us assess progress next year; do not panic — the people are not in a hurry.

¶ 06 My time is short. A clarification: after the President’s Budget Speech last Friday, the media reported I skipped the tea reception and was hiding due to a warrant. That is false. I have faced a case for 17 years; I did not evade court. On that fixed date, I submitted documents explaining my absence; the court rejected them — that is its prerogative. The next day, I moved a motion, appeared, and had the warrant recalled. Repeating that I am in hiding suggests the Police are derelict — they are not; they perform their duties, and we respect the judiciary. We will answer all allegations properly and face all inquiries. I conclude.

¶ 07 Thank you.