The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, I first thank Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri. Hon. Thanura Dissanayake emphasized building a production economy; I fully agree. Hon. Shanakiyan Rasamanickam asked how to implement this amid current conditions; I will address that now. Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna urged that this extend to the North—indeed, this must be for all Sri Lankans: Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, Malay.

¶ 02 Hon. Lasith Bhashana Gamage asked whether youth only seek “e-cash” and stressed nurturing patriotic citizens—agreed. Hon. Hizbullah called for securing stable youth incomes—agreed. The Minister outlined how to secure youth futures. My point is simple: the Central Bank has specific lending schemes; make at least 10 percent explicitly for youth. If the Central Bank does not do what it should, we must insist.

¶ 03 Across Governments, the Central Bank exists to serve national policy. Do not make youth a ping-pong ball. Implement this motion. I questioned Central Bank “independence” used as an excuse to undermine fiscal policy—for example, to resist reducing electricity tariffs. What then is the point? The Central Bank must serve people within a coherent macro framework.

¶ 04 I will use my time precisely. We can modernize agriculture with high-tech, and channel youth into self-employment via an economic platform. Youth do not ask for Government jobs; they ask for capital. Funds need not come from the Budget; use specific lending schemes. Build a knowledge-based economy and invest in income-generating avenues.

¶ 05 We gave Rs. 20 billion to SriLankan Airlines to service debt. If such capital went to entrepreneurs, imagine the impact. Rather than a few mega-mills, support 1,000 small rice mills with credit to each to process 10 metric tons—costing about Rs. 15 billion—far less than SriLankan’s Rs. 20 billion, and nationwide benefits via specific lending windows.

¶ 06 We can create one million youth entrepreneurs with about Rs. 150 billion. Convert the USD 175 million ISB used to prop SriLankan into youth capital—creating jobs and security. I want for every child in Sri Lanka the same security I want for my own. Let us embed these policies and secure our youth’s future together. Thank you.

¶ 07 Question put, and agreed to.