The Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne - Deputy Minister of Mass Media

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, this is an important opportunity to speak on the NPP Government’s second Budget. The Opposition repeatedly asked about our ideological foundation: left or right? I call this a “Budget that leaves no one behind.” Our guiding principle, in both 2025 and 2026, is inclusion — bringing historically excluded groups into equality. That is our philosophical basis and our equity lens.

¶ 02 Equity can be cash, goods, food, harvest support, elders’ stipends, disability benefits, pensions and salaries, or the 2025 housing drive and continued nutrition and school support — uniforms, shoes, books — and expanded educational opportunities. This is the inclusion foundation of our Budget.

¶ 03 As in 2025, we allocate Rs. 231 billion to school kits for children from low-income families — in addition to the shoe voucher introduced last year. Our core aim has been to build a productive economy with people’s participation and fair distribution of gains.

¶ 04 Through sound fiscal management, we have positioned the State to grant more relief in 2026. Much debate surrounded subsidies and the Rs. 200 attendance incentive. Let me be clear: relief extends beyond estates. We allocate Rs. 565 billion for pensions and gratuities, and Rs. 10.65 billion for welfare of senior citizens.

¶ 05 This is, in many ways, a feminist Budget. Our policy document (page 76) commits to gender-equal economic justice and valuing unpaid care work. What did we do? Under the Women and Children’s Affairs Ministry, we advanced a daycare policy and now allocate Rs. 0.35 billion for daycare centres, recognizing that unpaid care burdens should be socially supported. Increased spending on eldercare, public transport and education captures and values unpaid care within the national economy.

¶ 06 For the first time, we launched “Artha” — bank accounts in the names of children with disabilities, including autism, to systematically save for their future. Employers recruiting persons with disabilities will receive a State wage top-up up to Rs. 15,000 per person. These are targeted subsidies.

¶ 07 Why such a fight over Rs. 200 for estate workers? Because politics that ring-fenced workers for decades now fears losing its hold. I note the Opposition Leader has stated support, and some constructive suggestions have come. However, complaints to the Bribery Commission or the Auditor-General to test constitutionality are misplaced — constitutional review lies with the Supreme Court.

¶ 08 We also invest in MSMEs, rural economies and women’s livelihoods: Rs. 240 million for self-employment via women’s societies; Rs. 100 million for supply chain and producer cooperatives; Rs. 18 billion for small and medium farmers and home gardening; and Rs. 59 billion in revolving credit.

¶ 09 We focus on potable water: funding 3,780 community water schemes to solve drinking water for 20,000 low-income housing units. SDG 6 obliges States to ensure water and sanitation for all. Where households lack water, the care burden falls disproportionately on women — globally, about 80 per cent in such households. This, too, is why I call this a feminist Budget.

¶ 10 We also address climate change and its gendered impacts, and are reforming microfinance with a new bill under Hon. Samanmalee Gunasinghe’s leadership to better protect women borrowers.

¶ 11 To those querying our ideological base, the answer is: inclusion — a Budget that leaves no one behind.

¶ 12 Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.