The Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep - Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, the 2025 Budget is a key subject of discussion across Sri Lanka. It allocates funds without discrimination of race, language, or region, to address problems and uplift livelihoods in all parts of the country—North, East, South—equally.

¶ 02 Regarding the Malaiyaha (plantation) people: 200 years ago they came from South India. Even after two centuries, many lack addresses, houses, and land ownership. Past politicians sought votes with promises and failed to deliver; hence the political change seen nationwide has also occurred in the estates. Today, the National People’s Power is the preferred choice among the estate people.

¶ 03 There are about 250,000 estate families, many still homeless, living in the same “line rooms” built during colonial times, lacking basic amenities. Recognizing this, the Indian Government previously granted a 10,000-house programme. Although 1,300 houses were to be built, only 600 were completed; 700 remain unfinished. Through this Budget, the National People’s Power Government has decided to complete 4,700 new houses in the estates this year. Including the pending 700, a total of 5,400 houses will be built this year. Unlike past partisan allocations, our Government will give houses based on need.

¶ 04 Estate residents also face language barriers in dealing with State institutions. We are taking steps to address this. Under the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, 75 selected line-room clusters will be renovated—painting, repairing walls and floors, constructing toilets, etc. We will also assist residents to obtain NICs, birth and marriage certificates. Some ask whether estates will get “storeyed” or “block” houses; we say: individual houses will be provided.

¶ 05 Estate workers contribute significantly to national income, toiling and even being buried in the soil they served. Yet fair wage increases were long denied. In this Budget, our President has guaranteed raising the estate worker daily wage to Rs. 1,700. We will soon negotiate with companies to implement this.

¶ 06 Malnutrition affects education in the estates. As a teacher for 18 years, I have seen students faint during morning assemblies because many cannot eat three meals—some come to school after only one meal. The nutrition programme will greatly benefit estate students. School dropout rates are also high; we have introduced measures to reduce this.

¶ 07 In the past, discrimination prevailed in teacher appointments and provision of facilities. Many estate schools still lack toilets, water, science labs, and libraries. In Ratnapura District, there are no strong schools to teach Advanced Level science streams. Of 104 estate schools, 95 face serious problems. A few schools have A/L science or maths only due to principals’ efforts, not because of State support. Past governments neglected Tamil schools in Ratnapura.

¶ 08 Finally, the Opposition speaks of underworld gangs, but who created and armed them? In the estates too there were acts of political thuggery. Those responsible now speak of good governance. I say: today we have a governance free of racism; with the backing of Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim people, the National People’s Power Government has formed the administration. I conclude.