The Hon. T.K. Jayasundara

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. Before my prepared remarks, though I could respond to the Opposition, their speeches remind me of lorries carrying meat or kasippu with “Budu Saranai, Devi Pihitai” painted on the front—beautiful words hiding hypocrisy and cruelty inside. They have done every inhumane act in history and now speak here with tears. There is little merit in answering that, but I will address some points.

¶ 02 We must tell the people our path, our tasks, and our Government’s programme. In the last four months of last year, a great political transformation occurred: we formed a government free of political finger-pointing; free of chauvinism; free of corruption. This was a major victory. Some said do not speak of 70-odd years, but what could not be done for decades happened last year.

¶ 03 As a result, our country has regained international respect; previously, one was ashamed to show a passport. Now that has changed. Foreign investors’ confidence has been restored; we can think anew. A level playing field is emerging for entrepreneurs and investors; previously the system was biased toward the well-connected. Now we enter a new era, launching a new economic trajectory under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s comprehensive economic turnaround.

¶ 04 To appreciate this, one must grasp not only the literal meaning but the deeper import. Earlier a Member, a supposed lawyer, spoke on “revolution” as if switching from Ranil to Sajith or SLFP to Pohottuwa is revolution. He has not understood the word. Revolution is something that transforms people’s conscience and society.

¶ 05 Another spoke of free education. Free education is not a name; it must be felt by teachers, students, and parents. Likewise, we call our country a Democratic Socialist Republic—but has democracy been realized on the ground? The truth is measured by what reaches the people—in allocations for education and health—not by words.

¶ 06 This morning Minister Bimal Rathnayake said “by name it is Daya,” but where is the mercy in deeds of those who grabbed people’s assets and denied basic public rights? Do not judge by names; examine the substance.

¶ 07 What is next in this economic journey? Two main imperatives: - Build a humanist society, which we lost during eras that discouraged learning history, culture, and language, and glorified violent politics; a time when “righteous” leaders did unrighteous deeds, even attacking scholars and monks. We must restore humanism. - Achieve sustainable economic development—continuous, environmentally sound, and equitable, creating a fair level ground for all.

¶ 08 These two are interdependent; one cannot exist without the other. To serve both, we must bring economic democracy—changing from politically favoured opportunities to fair access, with people’s participation.

¶ 09 Our target: increase export earnings from USD 12.7 billion in 2024 to USD 19 billion in 2025. It is not easy; the whole society must align rapidly. The world changed through hard tasks, not easy ones.

¶ 10 For example, we propose to bring 3 million tourists, then increase to 8 million. In Galle District, tourism was confined to the coast from Bentota to Habaraduwa. But we have Sinharaja, Kanneliya, Hiniduma—tropical wet evergreen forests. We never opened these responsibly to tourism, nor provided access. In Elpitiya, Karandeniya, Neluwa and areas, tea and cinnamon lands can be tourist destinations. When tourists come to see these forests, our village poor get a market and foreign income; we take the Colombo-centric economy to the village, creating equal ground and opportunities. It will also spur new rural entrepreneurship in tea, cinnamon, and kitul industries. This links with Clean Sri Lanka. We must build a humanist society through Clean Sri Lanka and, in parallel, create rural anti-poverty programmes that generate economic opportunities.

¶ 11 In this Budget we have also focused on small tea-holders: allocations increased from Rs. 1,158 million in 2023 to Rs. 1,355 million in 2025. For tea research, from Rs. 465 million in 2023 to Rs. 705 million this year. We are building the necessary infrastructure for a new leap in the tea industry.

¶ 12 Finally, an Opposition MP from Colombo said in a media briefing that her party is full of “snakes” and that Colombo District is a mess. Saving the country from such “snakes” is also a big task—one we undertake under Clean Sri Lanka. Even those distressed in the Opposition will ultimately receive relief through Clean Sri Lanka and our economic programme. Thank you.