The Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, certain people at that time centralized and jointly controlled the DBO, and on 12 April 2022 dragged this country into bankruptcy. Having done that and fallen into Opposition, because of the sorrow of defeat they kept howling in this Parliament; much noise, many lies, trying to mislead the people. But the people have sent the message and placed everyone who speaks against this Budget appropriately. Therefore, this round—belongs to the Opposition. When we go three or four years ahead, we confidently say even for the Opposition it will be a bit difficult. So if possible, we invite the Opposition too to come over here. We do not believe that by shouting and howling they can mislead the people. The people are intelligent. After 76 years of careful consideration, in 2024 the people elected a new Government and a new President. From here on, the National People’s Power together with the people of this country will take the country forward. So do not believe that the country ruined by deceiving the people will be handed back to those same people again.

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, for the National People’s Power, this is the second Budget we present after taking charge of the country following the 2024 presidential election, for the year 2026. In presenting this Budget, we have put forward six core strategic objectives.

¶ 03 First, benefits for all. Throughout history, those who built and sustained this country, who worked and loved this country, have been treated unjustly. We have presented a people’s Budget that looks after them. We have proposed a framework where benefits are fairly distributed in proportion to the nation’s rebuilding, not just a set of numbers.

¶ 04 Next is export diversification. To build and move the country forward, we must certainly increase national income. To increase income, we must diversify production and provide the necessary facilities, processes, and plans for people to enter productive sectors. This Budget for 2026 is aligned to that objective.

¶ 05 Next is debt sustainability. What they did all along was present Budgets financed by debt and keep the country running—covering expenditure via privatization proceeds or borrowing. We move beyond that: while increasing revenue, we borrow within a planned framework and spend within that plan. This 2026 Budget is designed to drive debt sustainability with such strategic planning.

¶ 06 Next, developing the productive economy. Across the country there is a large number of SMEs. We identified the grave injustice done to them. Day by day all—from SME to large-scale industry—were being pushed toward auctioning off their assets. We have presented a planned Budget for them—one that lifts the productive economy.

¶ 07 Likewise, this is a Budget aligned to a massive plan to eradicate poverty. Previously, though they talked of ending poverty, all they did was distribute welfare, deceive the people, and protect power by grabbing their votes. They failed to create a plan to eliminate and reverse poverty. With this Budget we aim to eradicate rural poverty via planned programs through building the productive economy. That is what we present for 2026.

¶ 08 Also, digitalization. From ending fraud and corruption to transforming the country to fit the new world, this Budget carries a robust plan for digital work programs, innovation, and a strategic roadmap. Therefore, this Budget should be read with these strategic plans, not merely by looking at the numbers. However, from the day the President presented the Budget on the 7th until today, Opposition economic “gurus” and others have only spoken about the numbers. A Budget is not just numbers; it contains a grand plan, a vision, an operational roadmap. Unfortunate that they saw only numbers; thus they failed to plan to rebuild the country. This is a Budget with such aims. We have presented it for 2026. Yet the Opposition still fails to read it. We say, go beyond reading letters and numbers—understand what a Budget is. Then we can have a good debate in this Parliament.

¶ 09 We propose: from the 15th begins the Committee Stage—Ministry-wise debate. We invite Opposition MPs to come having understood this Budget’s aims and plans. Then we can have a constructive critique.

¶ 10 When Opposition MPs speak, as always, they ask, “What have you done since 2024? You did nothing.” Let me give a few examples. We have restarted Phase II of the Katunayake Airport development that you halted in 2019; discussions with JICA have been held and work is planned. You halted the Central Expressway from 2019–2021; we have restarted it. Stage I from Kadawatha to Mirigama has begun; groundwork for Stage III from Potuhera to Galagedara is being prepared. We are drafting the basic plan for the proposed Kurunegala–Dambulla Expressway. We have also initiated the basic plan to commence the Ruwanpura Expressway. I speak of projects you stopped that we have restarted.

¶ 11 In health, you began five cardiac catheterization units and stopped them by 2018. We are restarting them at Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Kandy, Badulla, and Trincomalee General Hospitals, with JICA support of about Rs. 20 billion. You halted recruitments to the public service; the hospital system collapsed. In 2019–2020 you also stopped recruiting A/L qualified candidates to NTS. We are now conducting interviews for those who sat A/L in 2020–2022; initial steps are underway to recruit 2,665 to the nursing service.

¶ 12 Hon. Presiding Member, my time is up. Please allow me a short extension.

¶ 13 We plan to re-recruit nurses whose recruitment was stopped in 2021. Of 878 graduates interviewed, a decision was taken to recruit 700; already 553 have been recruited and the remainder planned. If I am wrong, please say so.

¶ 14 You asked what we have done. I cited what we resumed. Additionally, many more have been started. For promotions of nursing sisters halted in 2019, we plan to recruit 516; interviews are complete. Further, for 40 health projects abandoned since 2012–2014, we have allocated Rs. 45 billion in 2025.

¶ 15 To conclude quickly, in 2026 we will complete another 45 projects. By end-2026, projects totaling Rs. 100 billion—many of which you had halted—will be underway. There is more to say, but time is short. Beyond the projects you stopped that we resumed, we have initiated many new ones: public sector and estate worker wage increases, rural roads, and measures for agriculture and industry—enough to speak all day. Therefore, I urge the Opposition to go home today, read this Budget, understand its thrust, and come prepared for the Committee Stage from the 15th. Since there are no substantive points in your criticism, we end up repeating ourselves. If possible, find at least a couple of points against us to challenge. Then we can debate. As it stands, the Government has no debate with the Opposition.

¶ 16 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member.