The Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep - Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, natural disasters do not come with prior notice. Even great powers and developed nations suffer, losing thousands of lives and property. Likewise, the recent “Hour” cyclone caused unprecedented devastation in Sri Lanka, just as we were rebuilding the economy post-2024. We lost many lives and valuable assets. Yet, as a responsible Government, we acted swiftly and efficiently to provide maximum relief and support.

¶ 02 Today the Opposition says we failed to prevent the impact. Those who could not even give a meal to the affected tried to do politics “like foxes joining cobras.” Our President, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, MPs, and local members all went to the field to serve the people. Our comrades spent their own money in rescue efforts. With patriotism rarely seen in our politics, the people united in relief work, while the Opposition that could not provide even a bottle of water criticizes us. The public knows their deceitful politics. Having distanced themselves from the people, they are hunting for ways to topple the Government to escape accountability.

¶ 03 Earlier they did racist politics to divide people, which no longer works. Now they magnify small errors in post-cyclone relief to play politics. We see this as bad politics. The world, India’s Prime Minister, and the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister helped us. The diaspora and NGOs helped. Public officials worked tirelessly around the clock. Yet the Opposition extends a begging hand to these officials — a bankrupt political stance.

¶ 04 On wage increases for plantation workers, the Opposition Leader today shed crocodile tears. When our President allocated Rs. 5,000 million for estate workers, they opposed it, then somersaulted to claim support. Historically, if the Opposition had any votes, it was in the Hill Country. Now they risk losing even those. Especially the MP from Matale who challenged the wage—she can never again seek votes in the estates.

¶ 05 Let me also say in Sinhala regarding the Matale district MP: the estate people are waiting to respond. They now say they have no objection to raising workers’ wages; yet they were the ones who complained then. The Opposition’s remaining votes were in the estates; now those too are gone.

¶ 06 We will provide Rs. 1,750 as the daily wage for plantation workers from 10th February, I state here.

¶ 07 The Hill Country has been severely affected by the cyclone. People lost homes and property; some are still in shelters with few safe sites available. As per NBRO guidance, we have identified safe areas and decided to give houses with 10 perches of land to those with ownership. In 2026, we will build and hand over 7,000 houses in the first phase to the affected Hill Country people.

¶ 08 While the Opposition cannot help flood and landslide victims, and cannot topple this Government, they inflate trivialities. The people of Sri Lanka are clear: we have a leader among the people, with the people, consoling them. The relief provided is substantial. Hon. Deputy Speaker, not just five years — our rule will continue into the future. Thank you.