The Hon. Muneer Mulaffer - Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I wish to clarify the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress’s position on this Budget, particularly regarding the Rs. 200 attendance incentive proposed for estate workers. The party’s Secretary, Nizam Kariapper, criticized this in Parliament and stirred controversy. Today, Hon. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah spoke in support of the measure. The SLMC, in my view, should not adopt a stance that opposes assistance to a long-suffering estate community whose toil built the “Ceylon Tea” brand that made Sri Lanka known worldwide.

¶ 02 Last year, when the 2025 Budget was presented, the Opposition spread fear: that industries would close, investors would flee, bankruptcy would return, and Presidents would change monthly. None of that happened.

¶ 03 Now, their main charge is against supporting estate workers — the very people who sacrificed to build the Ceylon Tea brand accepted worldwide. Voting against this Budget is sending a message that they oppose relief to this community. Much of the Opposition campaign seems aimed at that message, because they have failed to challenge the Budget on substance.

¶ 04 The President gave a vital message in his Budget Speech: “Investors are an asset.” Recently, I visited Saudi Arabia and, earlier, Qatar. Some investors there have been misled and mistreated by past governments. They recounted how certain politicians here duped them. Those who now say “investors will flee” should note: if the former style of governance had continued, investors would indeed never come. Projects were abandoned then. Today, we are rebuilding trust and bringing investors back.

¶ 05 There is also criticism about capital expenditure. We are on target and unafraid. Compare capital spending in 2016 under the yahapalana Government. This Budget considers every segment, even small, often-ignored groups like gatekeepers at unsafe rail crossings.

¶ 06 In contrast, some past Budgets began with frivolities and ended by pushing the country to a deathbed. This Budget builds people’s trust through steady, responsible action, including for our expatriate Sri Lankans whose remittances helped stabilize the economy.

¶ 07 The Opposition started with “egg, salt, onion, potato, rice” narratives. They stalled major development — including the Central Expressway — during yahapalana. We are regaining public confidence and restarting development. This Budget carefully nurtures growth while rebuilding the nation.

¶ 08 In past crises, rulers told the people to “tighten belts” while misusing public funds. Today, with nothing substantive left to say, the Opposition attacks vehicle allocations. The public’s conscience knows the difference: past ministers grossly abused State vehicles; the current President, Prime Minister and Ministers use them with restraint.

¶ 09 Hansards show enormous sums once spent on vehicles — about Rs. 2,800 million just for ministers at one point. We are procuring vehicles to make State machinery and local authorities efficient in serving the people — many State institutions have not renewed fleets for 10–12 years.

¶ 10 No matter how much the Opposition shouts, people know this Government acts for the public, not for rulers’ whims. This is a people-first Budget.

¶ 11 Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.