The Hon. Nandana Pathmakumara

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, as we debate the Expenditure Heads of the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, I thank you for the opportunity to speak briefly.

¶ 02 Our Government’s foremost aim is to focus on the most vulnerable citizens—those suffering poverty, without support, afflicted by illness and mental health conditions—and to transform and empower their lives. His Excellency the President has allocated substantial funds in this Budget to realize such programmes across the country.

¶ 03 The Leader of the Opposition asked, “You promised to end poverty and to give jobs to 30,000 graduates. Where are the jobs?” The President has stated we will provide employment to 30,000 graduates and also create opportunities for many more. Public sector recruitment must follow due process—calling for applications and interviews. We have been in office only a few months and presented our first Budget only days ago. We will deliver, but not as the Opposition Leader did in the past—handing out jobs arbitrarily as security if one is tall, labourer if one is short, field work for men, office work for women. We will follow fair procedures and qualifications.

¶ 04 We must also address the rapidly growing elderly population. Due to the lack of care, many elderly homes have opened. According to the National Secretariat for Elders, 8,806 indigent elders live in 392 homes; many lack birth certificates, NICs, or next of kin to represent them. I visited several homes in my district: in one, 56 of 70 residents had neither birth certificates nor NICs; in another, 14 of 20 had no documents or caregivers. This is the fate of many elders who contributed to our society but now lack structured support.

¶ 05 I recall an instance in Kalutara: at the commissioning of a crematorium, an unidentified deceased person—with no relatives—was used for the trial run and later commemorated as “the unknown benefactor.” Such stories reflect our duty to protect and dignify elders, ensuring access to medicines, banking, public services, transport seating, and appropriate facilities.

¶ 06 We also have many differently-abled persons and those suffering mental distress who need attention. Through these programmes we aim to build a prosperous country with dignified lives. Thank you.