Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha

¶ 01 Thank you for the clarity. Your Budget is good in this respect. But remember, the 800,000 are those without Aswesuma. There are many more—about 6.5 million private-sector workers and state workers who backed you. For them, reduce VAT on essentials, as promised during elections, so relief reaches a broader population.

¶ 02 On rice: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said in October 2024 that apart from tourism needs, not a single grain of rice would be imported. After coming to power, you changed course. I don’t say importing rice was wrong—sometimes it is necessary—but pre-election promises must be tempered by practical realities.

¶ 03 You faced a major rice issue. You imposed a controlled price, summoned large millers to the Presidential Secretariat multiple times, inspected outlets, yet could not stabilize prices; finally, you raised the controlled price by Rs. 10, granting millers a bonus. Paddy was bought at Rs. 80–90; milled rice controlled price moved from Rs. 220 to Rs. 230. You should have imported rice and created competition in the market. Instead, you kept a Rs. 65 duty intact even during shortage; historically, during shortages, duties are reduced to ease imports. Your tenders lagged; some did not materialize. Due to wrong timing, rice remains expensive, benefiting big traders and hurting consumers.

¶ 04 Your Ministry oversees many institutions—Sathosa, Lak Sathosa, STC. Through robust state market interventions, you can regulate prices. Strengthen Sathosa; expand outlets into cities and villages to compete with major private chains.

¶ 05 President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has entrusted you with one of the best portfolios. It has been half a year since he assumed office and some months since your government formed. We do not yet see the next concrete steps bearing fruit. We will give you another six months and observe where your economic programme stands by year-end. You will have a chance to demonstrate progress in the upcoming local elections. The people gave you 43% in the presidential election and then 159 seats in Parliament—more than a two-thirds-type mandate to act. There is no obstacle; the Opposition will not sabotage state machinery. We are a constructive Opposition.

¶ 06 However, instead of focusing on solving problems, some ministers attack the Opposition Leader. For instance, Minister Sunil Handunnetti made allegations about cement privatization, suggesting tuition fees were paid to Hon. Sajith Premadasa. Privatization via people’s shareholding began under the UNP, but the specific cement deal was concluded under President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s government in 1994. There were three days of parliamentary debate in March 1996; nowhere in the Hansard is there any allegation that Sajith Premadasa received tuition fees. After President Ranasinghe Premadasa’s death in May 1993, Sajith returned to Sri Lanka and engaged in politics in Hambantota—not tuition classes. Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi can attest to this. Therefore, do not sling mud to distract from real issues. Present your progress reports—three-month and six-month performance—and show the steps taken.

¶ 07 Your budget also claims “new” investment zones like Bingiriya; in fact, Bingiriya was established in 2018, yet only Rs. 0.9 billion is allocated now—insufficient even to develop it. Be honest with the public.

¶ 08 Local government nominations close tomorrow. I state that in many councils, including Bingiriya and Udupiddy, chairmen will be from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya; in over 100 of the 300 bodies, SJB-led Opposition will appoint chairmen. Record this in the Hansard.

¶ 09 As for internal SJB matters mentioned from the floor: leadership changes are to give opportunities to youth and newcomers; we do not cling to posts forever. The people will decide who carries village-level strength.

¶ 10 Thank you.