The Hon. Danushka Ranganath

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity. When the NPP assumed power, the economy, politics, and society were in crisis. Our primary goal was stabilization, which we achieved through the first Budget, and now we are channeling benefits to the people.

¶ 02 Two clarifications. Hon. Harsha de Silva and Hon. Ravi Karunanayake claimed a Rs. 1 million house (10 lakhs) cannot be built. In Kalutara, our low-income housing program has approved 198 houses; 147 are completed; 49 are in progress; two about to start; and 82 have already been handed over. Photos are placed in the Library. Please see them.

¶ 03 To the Hon. Member who took a swipe at our Minister, I recall the poem “Archimedes takes his life” that our Minister cited – but let me turn to substance. For decades, the Malaiyaha Tamil community has endured hardship while powering our economy. Their minimum daily wage was Rs. 1,350; last year we tried to address it but faced issues. In the coming year we have a solution: Rs. 200 from plantation companies plus a Rs. 200 daily attendance incentive from the Government – Rs. 10,000 more per month for 25 working days. This Government is delivering a wage uplift others did not. In Kalutara alone, about 45,000 Malaiyaha Tamils will benefit. Despite Opposition attempts to undermine this, we will not reduce our focus.

¶ 04 We present this Budget as a successful roadmap for the country’s direction.

¶ 05 Thank you.