The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, the JVP–NPP Government’s second Budget was presented by the President for four and a half hours. We did not see services, allocations, or development for agriculture, fisheries, working people, entrepreneurs, or education. Government MPs say that after 76 years of destruction, only they have rebuilt the country. The people know what has been achieved over 76 years. The JVP has existed for about 60 years. What did they do in those 60 years? They opposed everything every government did. They advocated a far-left socialist economic policy claiming the market-oriented policy was wrong. Today, after 70 years, they accept the UNP’s—now SJB’s—economic policy. We are happy they admit it. They must acknowledge the devastation they caused.

¶ 02 They vilified the United States as imperialist; India as expansionist. They opposed trade pacts with foreign countries; opposed Indian investments; opposed the Eastern Terminal of Colombo Port; opposed the Sampur power plant; opposed the Indo-Lanka Accord; opposed Provincial Councils and the political solution for the national question. Thousands were killed; people were denied the vote. They opposed ETCA, CEPA, and every such agreement. They were mostly on the streets, dragging the working people to the streets. When we brought the Education White Paper, they opposed it. Now they have brought a similar white paper themselves. If anyone asks who harmed this country more through corruption and violence, we say the LTTE and the JVP have done more damage to development than anyone else.

¶ 03 Today they accept our economic, foreign, and education policies. Had they not taken to the streets to oppose them, the country would be in a much better place. They must take responsibility for the country’s decline.

¶ 04 They opposed bringing in the IMF. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, then Opposition MP, opposed it. Now, what is happening? They dance to the IMF’s tune. Our Leader, Sajith Premadasa, said we would engage with the IMF in a way that benefits the people and take necessary steps accordingly. But do we now have a productive economy? No. Is agriculture growing? Is industry growing? Is construction developing? All are collapsing while this Government squeezes people’s necks to take taxes—on sugar per kilo, flour per kilo, rice per kilo—and then claims there is a surplus and progress.

¶ 05 I have been here for three decades. This is the least-performing Government. Last year you spent only about 30 percent of what you allocated. There is no money circulation in the economy, no cash in people’s pockets. The Government is getting richer; the people are getting poorer. People are finding it hard to live. In your policy statement, you said you would remove the 18 percent VAT on essential food items. Did you reduce it? If you have money, at least reduce these burdens.

¶ 06 On education, you promised to remove 18 percent VAT on books and school supplies. I recall Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, now Minister, said you would sell diesel and petrol at landed cost. Are you doing that now? No—you are charging more than what you promised us. You promised to reduce electricity tariffs. If there are profits, reduce electricity and water tariffs. Today you are puppets of the IMF. Under your rule, poverty has increased. When we handed over the country in 2019, poverty was below 10 percent; now it is 35 percent.

¶ 07 The President said those recruited to public service after 2016 will not get a pension. He came to power on lies. He misled Parliament, public servants, and the people. If anyone lies here, we raise a Point of Order. We can do that regarding the President as well.

¶ 08 He mentioned recruitment and even cited my name as I was then Minister of Public Administration. On 2017.08.25, we issued Public Administration Circular No. 21/2017. Appointment letters to public officers stated: “This appointment is pensionable.” The President says there is no pension. The letters also say, “You will be subject to future policy decisions of the Government regarding the pension scheme” and require contributions to the Widows’/Widowers’ and Orphans’ Pension (W&OP). We discussed a new pension scheme with trade unions, but the Government decided to continue with the old pension scheme. The Circular clearly says appointments are pensionable. We collected W&OP and pension contributions. We say to the President: do not lie to the people and Parliament. They are entitled to a pension. There is no need to withdraw the Circular and re-grant pensions—it already guarantees pensions. I table this Circular because the President misled the public.

¶ 09 Now there is nothing to say—no development, no jobs, no promises fulfilled. You ran a campaign about catching drug traffickers, but those getting caught are your own people. We will speak further during the debate on the Ministry of Public Security.

¶ 10 Tabled. Placed in the Library.