The Hon. Nandana Pathmakumara

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I thank the people of Sri Lanka for giving the National People’s Power a genuine mandate, and especially the people of Kalutara District for sending eight MPs.

¶ 02 The Opposition is shedding crocodile tears and speaking faster out of fear of losing ground in upcoming local elections. If you truly care about people, support an investigation into those who took large sums from the President’s Fund—how obtained, how spent, and whether proper documentation was provided.

¶ 03 In these 49 days, the Government has provided significant reliefs: fertilizer subsidy increased from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000; measures to dismantle the rice monopoly/mafia, with Rs. 3 billion allocated to purchase paddy next season; rehabilitating destroyed paddy stores and reopening or starting mills with support and credit to small millers to break cartels.

¶ 04 We reduced diesel by Rs. 25 per litre for fisheries, enabling fishermen to resume trips—about 4,000 litres per trawler per trip translates to around Rs. 100,000 relief per trip; two trips yield Rs. 200,000—bringing cheaper fish to consumers. We are also addressing nets, ice, and inputs.

¶ 05 Through Aswesuma, we are extending durations and increasing benefit amounts, and providing Rs. 6,000 for school supplies to children from beneficiary families, including small schools under 300 students, and Rs. 3,000 for pensioners facing hardship.

¶ 06 Tourism: over two million arrivals already; targeting four million in 2025 through various measures, boosting rural and productive economies to deliver the promised “prosperous country and better life.” The Opposition only sees faults and never the good. We invite you to join Clean Sri Lanka and poverty alleviation efforts rather than obstruct.

¶ 07 We are satisfied with the 49-day performance and will strengthen and accelerate implementation. Thank you.