The Hon. Champika Hettiarachchi

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, considering the new market situation, our Government has brought a regulation under the Foreign Exchange Act No. 12 of 2017 in a very orderly manner. Since 2020-04-02, such proposals have been brought every six months; this is the tenth time. As the economy revives, we must enable foreign investment, particularly through mergers and acquisitions, while being sensitive to our dollar reserves.

¶ 02 When the Opposition governed, they lied to mislead the people; they still do. I have seen it firsthand. In a nearby village, if the UNP provided electricity to a village, those in another party would not even tap the pole near their house until their own party came to power. That is why they are now a small group and cannot even go to the villages; instead, they try to use Parliament as a stage. But this will end soon, because the NPP now governs.

¶ 03 The Opposition Leader claimed we lobbied for the chair of a foreign assembly. That is false. The Opposition tried to use those assemblies for their own project by appointing their own office-bearers. We insisted on democratic elections. In that process, Hon. Mujibur Rahman reacted impulsively, shouted and left, and later apologized to the Ambassador. They spread lies to embarrass us.

¶ 04 From 22 May 2020, only toys and buses were imported; no other vehicles. The same lot now say we promised cars at Rs. 1.2 million. When they left office, even a three-wheeler could not be bought for that; now a three-wheeler is Rs. 1.58 million. The very people who caused this now shout false promises.

¶ 05 Their Gazette even suspended “non-engine wheeled items”—meaning one could not even import a handcart or bullock cart if it had a wheel. We changed that. As the economy revives and tourism investment grows, buses and other vehicles are needed, including for public transport. We first allowed those; then, after review, we opened a new phase for commercial goods transport and private needs.

¶ 06 Vehicle prices are high not because of us but because the rupee depreciated and the dollar strengthened during the economic collapse. If you factor a Rs. 100 increase per dollar, a Rs. 5 million vehicle rises to Rs. 7.6 million. The 2024 hybrid government also imposed 18% VAT, further raising prices. A Rs. 5 million vehicle became over Rs. 9 million. To ease the burden, we adjusted the luxury tax threshold from Rs. 3.5 million to Rs. 5 million. As the economy and reserves strengthen, we will create an environment where everyone who needs a vehicle can afford one.

¶ 07 Regarding the “rice mafia,” in the past import opportunities were given to cronies; now, as those privileges end, they are shouting. At the airport region where I live, politics had penetrated even taxi operations. In the adjacent promotion zone with 27 acres, 23 investors are in line, but land was not allocated. Yet 50 acres elsewhere were given to cultivate cannabis for an MP. We are streamlining this now. Thank you.