The Hon. (Mrs.) Oshani Umanga

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, it is a great pleasure to make a brief intervention during the second reading debate of the 2026 Budget as our Government completes its first year in office.

¶ 02 Looking at the few Opposition Members present today, I recall how you shouted on political stages. You invited us to debates and asked what the “Malima economic model” was, claiming there was none to rebuild the country. Now, a year after we took office, the answer comes from this very Chamber. Opposition MPs themselves said during this debate that the Treasury now has money. Hearing that from your own mouths gives us pride. This is the practical operation of our economic model.

¶ 03 Our model is not confined to paper; it is proven in action. In our first year, for the first time in recent history, we significantly reduced the budget deficit. We zeroed out unnecessary politically motivated borrowing. We cut all those. The Opposition hoped we would fail, even prayed we could not repay our debts. We have, instead, built the fiscal discipline and plan to commence orderly external debt repayment by 2028.

¶ 04 This 2026 Budget stands on a strong foundation. Based on identified priorities—health, education, agriculture, community infrastructure, transport—we have allocated to achieve development targets. In short, this Budget will please everyone from the business community in Colombo to our courageous mothers and fathers plucking tea on the estates. Regrettably, some in the Opposition have complained to the Bribery Commission, the Auditor General, and the Procurement Commission to block the allowance proposed for estate workers. Look at those mothers’ hands, chafed and bleeding; families in the estate lines struggle, lacking basic amenities.

¶ 05 For such people, we have provided a Rs. 200 daily allowance from the Government. Yet they shed crocodile tears. You always gave them a fish to keep them hungry, but when their economy starts to strengthen, you pull their legs—because you used them only for elections. Our Government has prepared this Budget to cover all communities. If anyone is saddened by this Budget, it is the small group in the Opposition who, seeing the year’s progress and the positive public response, realize they may never again get to present a Budget from the Government benches.

¶ 06 How did we bring this change? Through a value system—no stealing, no racketeering, sincere will to rebuild the country, continuous course correction, and strict discipline and values under which our Malima movement grew. With this Budget we will take village and city together toward our development goals. Our people at home and abroad bless us. We hope you will support this just and sound Budget.

¶ 07 Some Opposition Members ask how one builds a one-million-rupee house. Perhaps you see only the rupee value; but for the beneficiary it is immense. The whole village comes together lovingly and collectively. We have seen this. In Kalutara District, we have already completed 230 houses. What you could not give people during your rule, we are doing now—giving homes to families who lived in tents. We have allocated Rs. 440 million to empower women, and through the Ministries of Industries and Women and Child Affairs and the National Community Strengthening Programme, we have framed a national program to develop villages and empower women.

¶ 08 Hon. Members of the Opposition, this Budget is not harmful; it is designed looking at the most vulnerable segments and representing all groups. It will deliver a more comfortable life and take Sri Lanka toward prosperity. We hope even your small group will support it.

¶ 09 Thank you.