The Hon. Chandana Thennakoon

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, during this Committee Stage debate on the Finance, Planning and Economic Development Ministry, I note many commendable features in this Budget.

¶ 02 A key positive is that funds and projects are spread across all regions, rather than concentrated near particular Ministers, the President or their families as before. Now, all areas—North, East, West, South—and all sectors—agriculture, fisheries, tourism and rural roads—receive allocations.

¶ 03 In my Galgamuwa electorate, there are over 1,300 km of rural roads. Last year, not a rupee was spent on repairs; not even a single load of gravel was laid. Children struggled to reach school; commuters and bus drivers faced hardship. In this Budget, under the Hon. President and the Minister of Transport and Highways, a substantial allocation of Rs. 29,680 million has been made to rehabilitate rural roads, and Rs. 1,000 million for rural bridges. Additionally, Rs. 2,000 million is set aside for downstream development in schemes such as Gal Oya, Rajanganaya, Minneriya and Huruluwewa. For example, canals in Rajanganaya have not been rehabilitated for years; over Rs. 500 million is now allocated to enable proper water conveyance.

¶ 04 In the dry zone—Giribawa, Eppawala, Galgamuwa—people have long suffered from lack of potable water. This Budget allocates Rs. 1,000 million to improve drinking water supply. Another project begun in 2003 to divert Siyambalangamuwa Oya to Mahagalkamuwa Wewa with a Rs. 510 million allocation was halted in 2016 due to irregularities. If completed, 2,000 acres could be newly cultivated annually—600 acres each Yala and Maha. The Hon. President and the Minister have now restarted it, strengthening the rural economy.

¶ 05 Overall, Rs. 78,000 million is allocated to rural road sectors to drive grassroots development, with Rs. 640 million to mitigate the human–elephant conflict. Funds are flowing to every region—this is a success.

¶ 06 In the past, many unproductive projects were pursued—towers, playgrounds where there was no play—wasting tax money. This time, funds are directed to people-centric, result-yielding projects, implemented under a new political culture to ensure outcomes.

¶ 07 On welfare, we have resolved issues and extended benefits for those being phased out from transitional schemes. The Rs. 8,500 monthly benefit was increased to Rs. 10,000; the Rs. 15,000 benefit to Rs. 17,500. Every Aswesuma family receives Rs. 6,000 for school books; schools with under 300 children also receive support. Disability and kidney patient allowances were raised from Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 10,000; the elderly allowance from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000. A Rs. 5,000 Avurudu relief pack is provided to needy families. Funds are allocated to uplift four million low-income families. Children in remand homes will receive a Rs. 5,000 monthly allowance. Grade 5 bursaries increased from Rs. 750 to Rs. 1,500; nutrition grants for students in sports schools from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000; university Mahapola from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 7,500.

¶ 08 The Opposition is anxious because funds are reaching villages, strengthening local economies and building bonds with Government. This Budget embraces all who need relief and looks after everyone—it is an inclusive Budget that starts a new era. Thank you.