The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 You speak about technology. The whole world is changing. Aquaculture integrated with technology is a key example. In the 1990s, aquaculture accounted for 20 per cent of the global economy of fisheries; today it is moving towards 50 per cent. But we are still below 5 per cent. Yet, you allocate funds. I saw that in the last Budget you allocated Rs. 200 million for sea cucumber farming. How much of that Rs. 200 million was actually utilized? As far as we know, that Rs. 200 million remains unused.

¶ 02 Now you speak of leveraging the fisheries industry for national economic growth. The President said he would lift the whole country through the ocean. After coming to power promising to revive the economy with the IMF and the sea, Sri Lanka’s dried fish imports have increased by 461 metric tons. Dried fish is a small village industry, run by small and medium-scale entrepreneurs. Together with other imports, overall dried fish imports have gone up by 461 metric tons. Hon. Deputy Chairperson, our umbalakada (Maldive fish) imports have increased by 383 metric tons. You came to power saying the great ocean will lift the nation; yet imports of dried fish have increased.

¶ 03 Next, let us talk about exports that earn dollars. You came to power claiming we could rely on the sea alone. Take sea cucumber: export income is low. Export volumes this year are down by 427 metric tons compared to last year. Likewise, according to the Department of Census and Statistics, crab exports are down by 1,133 metric tons compared to last year. Tuna exports: in 2021, Sri Lanka exported 9,936 metric tons; in 2025 it is 4,700 metric tons—down. Marine sector income is down by Rs. 80 billion. Yet you were the ones who said the ocean would lift the economy.

¶ 04 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, 18 per cent of our population depends on fisheries. Eighty-five per cent of them live along the coast. By households or individuals, over two million people rely on this sector. We established fishermen’s housing, built harbours, set targets, gave relief to fishers, provided fuel subsidies on time, improved living standards, and founded the Ocean University for education. We also implemented housing schemes for fishers. Today, without these supports, the fisheries sector faces a serious crisis and is collapsing daily.

¶ 05 The President recently spoke about introducing satellite-based methods to locate fish. He has said this before. But still nothing has materialized. We understand several companies offered solutions, but you have not taken them up. Why? Other countries already use such technology; it is not new. Beyond protecting the industry, are you building a new generation of tech-enabled young fishers with knowledge to connect to the world? No. You have no clear will to protect sectors in this country. Your mindset prefers importing from abroad over protecting local industry. You ignore small-scale fishers.

¶ 06 Both multi-day and small-scale fishers face mounting problems. Do you listen? Instead, you politicize co-operative societies, intimidate officials, appoint loyalists, and drive your political agenda into fishermen’s committees. That is your political choice, but what happens to the fisher’s livelihood? If you improve their conditions and increase their income, we could support you. But neither is happening, and the industry keeps collapsing. If you and your Minister lack the will to safeguard it, what happens to the 2 million citizens who directly and indirectly depend on it?

¶ 07 Today there is a problem for the Norochcholai fishers. Has your Minister gone there and discussed it? There are issues for stake-net (maadhel) fishers. Have you engaged? When we meet small-scale fishers, we find you are not listening, not standing up for them, not understanding their issues, and not providing solutions.

¶ 08 Budget allocations are not getting invested. Recently, the Hon. Minister said the former Minister took Rs. 500 from VMS at a time when it cost Rs. 5,500; now it is Rs. 6,000. If someone took Rs. 500 then, now would it be Rs. 1,000? You said Rs. 150 is added on fuel; have you reduced that Rs. 150 and given fishers cheaper fuel? No. With current fuel and operational costs, fishers cannot practically make a profit. Necessary technology integration and structured support have not materialized.

¶ 09 We have 159 speakers in this Parliament; but do we have 159 doers? Your last Budget and conduct prove that the promises made for the people were not implemented. No matter how much hope you raise, this year’s four-and-a-half-hour Budget speech by the President will end the same way—unfulfilled.