The Hon. Lasith Bhashana Gamage

¶ 01 Mr. Presiding Member, the question raised at the time of adjournment asks what relief the people have received. The first relief is that we have rescued the country from corrupt elite family politics. That relief will be enjoyed as long as people live.

¶ 02 We inherited a bankrupt country with collapsed production, a country from which youth, professionals, and students wanted to leave, with a weakened workforce. Those who ruined the country now talk about the media. In an era when journalists were abducted, murdered, and media institutions torched, today those heirs talk about media freedom.

¶ 03 When we took over, the first challenge was that we could not say “we will run the country while you starve.” We must feed the people and educate the children, starting by increasing production. From the caretaker Government with three in Cabinet, we decided to raise the fertilizer subsidy from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000 and to assist fishers. Thus, 2.1 million farming families and 186,500 fisher families benefit. Through Aswesuma, we extended transitional and vulnerable categories and increased benefits to the poor and extremely poor.

¶ 04 Our greatest resource is human capital. Despite a small population, Sri Lanka has higher population density than China. Parents often sacrifice for children’s education. Yet in 2023, due to poverty, 50,345 students dropped out nationwide, 10,404 in the Western Province alone. Hence, we decided on a Rs. 6,000 allowance per child—first to children of Aswesuma beneficiaries, then to all children in schools with under 300 students.

¶ 05 Some only look to profit and cannot tolerate these reliefs. Did past Governments do such relief in 50 days? On local authorities not yet constituted, development and welfare are being carried out through District and Divisional Coordinating Committees, though there are practical issues. We will proceed lawfully and systematically, unlike past ad-hoc projects that created flood-prone cities.

¶ 06 Of 6.5 million households, 3,744,494 have applied for Aswesuma—over half the country. Around 1,894,114 households currently receive it. We acknowledge there are issues inherited from past Governments; we will resolve them while giving relief.

¶ 07 While many prices have reduced, some have increased due to past wrong decisions and irregular projects. Still, we are prepared to manage rice, salt, and related issues.

¶ 08 To the Opposition: you have not understood the people’s mandate. If you try to pull us down, the people will answer. Though we hold a two-thirds, we remain humble and will fulfill our promise and not stop our journey. Thank you.