The Hon. (Dr.) Nandana Millagala

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I am pleased to speak on our NPP Government’s 2026 Budget.

¶ 02 A point was raised that our policy document promised a Rs. 2,100 wage hike for Malaiyagam Tamils. Nowhere in “A Prosperous Country – A Beautiful Life” is that stated. What we clearly proposed is a Rs. 200 attendance incentive from the State, and we are implementing it.

¶ 03 This is a Budget that leaves no one behind. Some Opposition speeches were hostile rather than substantive. Let me enter with two reflections. Lenin wrote that when felling an ancient tree, pampered lapdogs of the bourgeoisie howl about each extra twig cut — while the working classes understand necessity and move forward. And an old Russian saying: giving a good in exchange for a good is easy; giving a good in exchange for an evil requires courage. We took over amid political, economic, social and cultural decay. Replacing that with good requires courage — and this Budget does so.

¶ 04 The President began his Speech noting he presents this second Budget with humble confidence because, during the eight–nine months of implementing the 2025 Budget, we acted decisively against corruption, upheld people’s sovereignty over extremism, restored rule of law and institutional independence, safeguarded public finance, and moved firmly against narcotics and organized crime. That is why we can present this Budget with confidence.

¶ 05 We are transforming a corrupt, unstable economy into a stable one, raising State revenues to enable not only economic but social and cultural progress. Hence, we allocate Rs. 704 billion to education, spanning universities, schools, piriven, estate schools and Dhamma schools. I draw attention to estate schools in my Kegalle District — places like Kandaloya, Nagastenne, Chevalthalawa, Kalupahana and Edurapolawatta — where conditions are weak but parents value education as the only path out of poverty. Beyond the Rs. 200 attendance support, we have targeted improvements for these schools and communities.

¶ 06 We laid the foundation in 2025. In 2026, we take the first steps atop that foundation, and in subsequent years, we will move towards the remaining targets of our policy framework. Thank you for the opportunity.