The Hon. R. M. Gamini Rathnayake

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, we are concluding seven days of debate on the 2026 Budget—our strategy to guide the economy forward under the National People’s Power Government.

¶ 02 We assumed office a year ago, in September and then November 2024, and presented a swift first Budget for 2025—resetting course and laying the needed foundation. We inherited a country declared bankrupt by its own political leadership. With the people’s mandate for change, we presented the 2025 Budget. The Opposition said the Government would fall in six, seven, or nine months. Instead, within a year we proved both political and economic stability.

¶ 03 Now, with the 2026 Budget—our second—we see the Opposition unable to offer policy critiques. They resort to side issues like the vehicle procurement to mislead the public, claiming LKR 12,500 million is for 225 MPs, when it is for 2,700 vehicles across the public sector to restore service capacity after decades of neglect.

¶ 04 This Budget is different from traditional Budgets. For years we heard only: revenue vs. expenditure, debt, tax hikes, and privatization to cover deficits. Our 2026 Budget imposes no new burdensome taxes on the people and avoids new borrowing, while strengthening fiscal management. Instead of reflexively selling loss-making SOEs, we propose structured reforms, and if closures or divestments occur, we ensure EPF/ETF and gratuity obligations to employees are safeguarded through Treasury support—rather than discarding workers.

¶ 05 This is the first Budget in many years that has left the Opposition without a substantive counter. Whether they like it or not, we will implement it, building the foundation for a “Prosperous Country – Beautiful Life,” and turning a new page in our national story.