The Hon. Champika Hettiarachchi

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, when this debate began, the Opposition’s Mujibur Rahuman presented a data table from 2019 to 2024 about budget allocations, as if we are debating 2024. We have been in Government only a short time; yet he attributes everything to the NPP Government.

¶ 02 Look where the previous Government left the people: seven million people were down to two meals a day. They put those burdens on us and spoke as if we did it. He also said we readied two Sathosa outlets in Deniyaya—opening a new one near an existing one. In fact, the building belonged to the late father of Nipuna Ranawaka, leased at Rs. 300,000 per month, 2,730 sq. ft. Later the rent was raised to Rs. 700,000. We know in past times such leases went to friends. But under today’s Government, we instead obtained a building around Rs. 300,000 with 4,949 sq. ft.

¶ 03 As for other Sathosa outlets, there are issues with ownership in Kottawa, Madu, Gampaha, Siyane, Badulla, Baduraliya, and Welimada. As a Government, we will look into these.

¶ 04 We also saw that in the past a theme song was made for Sathosa in 2019 spending Rs. 6.7 million (Rs. 670,000 per lakh times ten). That is how they worked. In this Parliament, revelations were made about bars, sheds, and the Presidential Fund disbursements—to friends. Institutions under this Ministry were used likewise.

¶ 05 The Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) under Act No. 47 of 1949 is the oldest state entity. When we took office, the CWE had been scheduled for closure on 2024.09.02. Our President and Ministers intervened and, reversing the decision, on 2024.12.30 reissued the gazette to continue CWE, to protect consumers. We are preparing it for wholesale trading too, establishing wholesale hubs in Colombo, Matara, and Kurunegala through this Budget, and enabling Sathosa and Cooperatives to import directly. As a result, prices of essentials like dhal, sugar, big onions, potatoes, salmon, and wheat flour have reduced, and inflation has been brought under control.

¶ 06 We plan in 2025 for Sathosa and Cooperatives together to buy 100,000 MT of paddy. The so-called “rice mafia” was discussed; closed and inactive mills have been revived to regulate prices—Hingurakgoda and Pannegamuwa mills are being repaired. We have also revived Sathosa transport, security, construction works, and fuel stations to deliver benefits to the people.

¶ 07 Out of 451 Sathosa outlets, 225 are loss-making. We are managing them toward profitability—relocating about 50% and opening about 150 new outlets, to make them income-generating. National retail sales are about Rs. 500 billion; Sathosa accounts for about Rs. 60 billion—third after Cargills and Keells. We need technology and trained staff; under the President’s Head, Rs. 21.8 billion is allocated for digitization (Rs. 7.1 billion to the Digital Economy Ministry and Rs. 14.7 billion to others). Our Government’s policy is digitization; we will use part of this to digitize trade, wholesale, and asset revenues.

¶ 08 Sathosa lacked even basic GRN systems, fixed asset registers, or annual budgets; they had become primary-level institutions. We are modernizing them to be competitive, profitable entities. Therefore I support this people-friendly Budget.

¶ 09 Thank you for the opportunity.