The Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayaka - President, Minister of Defence, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and Minister of Digital Economy

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, during this debate on the state of the economy, I am thankful for the opportunity to present several points on the economy. In recent times, some expected that this government would collapse due to certain international and domestic tensions. First, after tensions between India and Pakistan escalated, I saw perpetual commentators expecting bombs to be dropped on Colombo by Pakistan. Even amidst that atmosphere, several of our Defence Secretaries and Army Commanders were in Lahore, Pakistan. The Opposition expected an attack on Colombo; that was their prayer. Next, they expected the Israel–Iran conflict to trigger a global war and bring about our collapse. That did not happen. Then they pinned their greatest hopes on the tariff policy imposed by the United States causing our economy to fall. Even two days ago I saw one of your economic ideologues — was it Harsha or Godahewa? Whoever it was — predicting disaster: that rates would be 44%, that India’s would drop to 15–20%. You constantly dream of collapse — a cruel, destructive dream. Remember, that destructive dream will not come true. Begin to do politics within a realistic framework; your frame is wrong.

¶ 02 Now, there was talk of an “August President” who would not be in Parliament; then of a “December President,” with all plans made to seat him. How is that, when there are only three months to December?