Hon. Palani Thigambaram

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I am pleased to speak in the debate on the NPP Government’s second Budget.

¶ 02 The Government has announced a wage increase for hill-country estate workers: Rs. 200 added by companies to the basic wage and Rs. 200 as a Government incentive. This is welcome. During good governance, we attempted to grant such increases through the Government but could not. If this becomes permanent and incorporated into the basic wage — not merely as an incentive — people will celebrate you. Also clarify whether the Rs. 200 is only for 2026 or will continue annually.

¶ 03 We will fully support any initiative that advances the lives of the hill-country people. But wage support must be coupled with longer-term reforms to prevent the industry’s collapse. The solution is to restructure estates by allocating plots to workers and making them smallholders — which we have long advocated.

¶ 04 The Budget mentions developing Hatton in Nuwara Eliya District. Under good governance, we removed tin fencing around the Hatton railway station and began a new building, but could not continue after the change of government. As the district’s key town, Hatton needs waste management, bus stand upgrades, drainage, and parking.

¶ 05 Health allocations are welcome. Dialysis facilities are urgently needed at Kiligama Hospital to avoid patients traveling to Kandy.

¶ 06 Some local bodies and Divisional Secretariats in Nuwara Eliya still lack proper permanent buildings; the Government should provide them.

¶ 07 To those in this Government from the hills who ask others to apologize or resign: during our tenure we delivered many projects for hill-country people. Your members now govern the very Pradeshiya Sabhas we created and empowered by amending the 33rd clause to allow funding to estate areas. Do not attempt to shift Divisional Secretariats from Norwood to Hatton for political convenience.

¶ 08 In natural disasters under good governance, we promptly built individual houses, not just repaired burnt roofs. We created a dedicated authority to systematically develop the hill country; now it is listed for closure. As for carpet roads, we initiated many during good governance.

¶ 09 We will support good initiatives of this Government, but hill-country representatives in Government must execute real projects, not just talk. Resolve the long-standing land issue by allocating 10-perch plots to estate families.

¶ 10 Hon. Deputy Speaker, we welcome the Rs. 5,000 million allocation for estate communities and the proposed allowance. Clarify whether the allowance requires 25 days’ attendance or is per day. Some Opposition Members — such as Hon. Namal Rajapaksa and Hon. Nizam Kariapper of SLMC — oppose using taxpayers’ money for estate workers. They should understand estate workers have contributed to this country for 200 years. If not for them, then who deserves this support? If this Government provides what others could not, we should welcome it and support it. I thank the President for increasing estate wages and conclude.