The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence

¶ 01 Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to speak on the Defence Ministry heads at the 2025 Budget Committee Stage. Funds are allocated under seven Heads with two main funds. Beyond the tri-forces, many institutions fall under Defence. I will briefly outline them and their roles.

¶ 02 We all know the situation before we assumed office. With a vision for revival and broad social transformation, a people-friendly government was elected. We are now engaged in rebuilding the country with massive public participation from all communities—North, East, Upcountry and across Sri Lanka. We have a huge public mandate and we cannot trifle with it; we are bound to fulfil the people’s expectations. Accordingly, this Budget was crafted carefully to meet those aspirations, marking a positive political transformation recognised domestically and internationally.

¶ 03 Despite political change amid a grave economic crisis, no substantial economic transformation has yet occurred, because the entire system—economic, social, political—had collapsed: a democracy, governance and moral crisis. With that understanding, we move forward with the People’s Power. As a Government accountable to the people, we have given up the perks enjoyed by politicians and are acting accordingly, as reflected in this Budget.

¶ 04 We, the veteran community, re-entered service to the nation during this crisis as responsible citizens. What happened to our country? The rulers bankrupted it and allowed massive crime; rule of law collapsed; the Judiciary was challenged by the Executive; suspicion and mistrust grew among communities including the North and East; hospitals lacked food and medicine; bad policies led to corruption—the worst that could befall a country.

¶ 05 On the Defence Head, many think the vast funds are only for Army, Navy and Air Force. Not so. There are 25 institutions under Defence: the tri-forces; State Intelligence Service; Civil Security Department; National Cadet Corps; National Authority for Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention; General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University; Defence Services Command and Staff College; Defence Services School; Defence Research and Development Centre; National Institute of Security Studies; National Defence College; Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Ltd.; Sri Lanka Coast Guard; Department of Meteorology; and, as a disaster-prone country, the Disaster Management Centre and mechanism, the National Council for Disaster Management, the National Disaster Relief Centre, National Building Research Organisation, etc. Hence the large allocation.

¶ 06 Whenever turmoil, crises or uncertainty arise, citizens look to the tri-forces for safety. For decades, the forces made enormous sacrifices. They played a major role during the tsunami, the COVID-19 pandemic, after Easter Sunday, and during the economic crisis—Police, the Civil Security Department and the forces all rendered special services. On behalf of war heroes, disabled war heroes, and the families of the fallen and missing, I pay my respects to the Hon. President, the Minister of Defence.

¶ 07 To our Hon. MP from the North who raised concerns about camps and land in the North and East: at the recent Advisory Committee we discussed this. We have a special programme to release unnecessary lands while retaining only essential areas. We reopened the Palaly–Achchuveli road after 35 years—done after this Government took office. We also plan to develop the Palaly runway and to pay compensation for lands.

¶ 08 Regarding Kilinochchi schools: between the Primary and High School there are about 3,400 students. Last week the Principal and SDC Chairman met me. The playground currently requires a 1.5 km detour. We will urgently resolve access so children can play conveniently.

¶ 09 Hon. Shritharan, as you stated, there are not 317,000 troops in the North-East. The total tri-forces strength is now well under 200,000 island-wide. We have deployed the tri-forces, Police, Civil Security and other institutions nationwide to ensure national security.

¶ 10 We have justified allocations to the tri-forces, CSD and all Defence institutions that perform a vital service. Other Members will also present related points. I will add more before the end of the day. Thank you.