The Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the Hon. S.M. Marikkar ended with a quotation from a political figure responsible for severe damage to our national state and economy. Let me begin instead with Marx’s reminder that people make history under conditions not of their choosing. On 21 September 2024, Anura Kumara Dissanayake became President. We began rebuilding the state under inherited conditions and have advanced a strong, progressive path within one year; this Budget takes further steps.

¶ 02 To Hon. Marikkar: before summoning officials and committees in haste, please read the Budget Speech. Claiming there is no allocation or plan for Kelani flood mitigation is false. The Budget allocates Rs. 250 million to prepare and implement an integrated flood management plan for cities including Colombo and Gampaha—both defined by the Kelani basin. Moreover, under the Prime Minister’s leadership, all relevant ministries and experts are reviewing past plans (1961 Soviet plan, Mahaweli Authority plans, 1992 revisions, 2016 CRIP) to devise the best scientific solution.

¶ 03 You also alleged 2025 capital funds are largely unspent. In fact, of over Rs. 1 trillion allocated, Rs. 551 billion has already been spent—about 58 percent—with two months remaining; development disbursements typically peak late in the year, and we will exceed 90 percent execution.

¶ 04 On housing, you mocked Colombo allocations as fake. We have set aside Rs. 15 billion for 3,000 units in Colombo alone, plus funds for 10,000 more houses islandwide this year. Over the next three years, we target 50,000 units. In the last six months, we launched thousands and handed over 10,000 last month, with more being delivered.

¶ 05 The prior regime dismantled the public service—no recruitment, no promotions, competitive exams stalled. We allocated Rs. 1,100 billion last year and again this year to pay the enhanced public sector salaries, rebuilding a capable state. We held the long-delayed Management Service Officer recruitment exam on 01.11.2025; 2,000 young officers (about 400 graduates) are being appointed with a starting salary of Rs. 60,000. Through Cabinet decisions of 11.02.2025, 27.05.2025, and 28.10.2025, we approved recruitment totaling over 31,000 across services, including SLAS (297), accountants (499), planning (139), engineers (249), scientists (126), surveyors (33), mapping technologists (64), doctors (1,408), and nurses (3,447). We are strengthening institutions nationwide.

¶ 06 Thank you, Hon. Speaker.