Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, this Government has shifted far from its election policy platform. It came to power attacking the IMF and President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s policies; now it is implementing those policies even more zealously—especially tax hikes—without measures to grow people’s incomes or support SMEs.

¶ 02 Government speakers accuse the Opposition of being off-topic, yet they speak of history rather than concrete forward plans. It has been nearly a year; are you still only describing problems, or do you have solutions?

¶ 03 Investment numbers are inconsistent—USD 650 million, then “tens of millions,” then USD 4.6 billion “planned.” The BOI Chairman himself says definitive decisions have not been taken. What is the real pipeline? You project 10 percent GDP growth while ADB projects around 3.6–4 percent. Without actually bringing in investment, those numbers are fantasy.

¶ 04 Factories have closed; jobs are at risk. Jailing a few former officials does not attract investors. Systemic reforms are needed—procurement digitization, best-practice tendering. Where are those reforms? Instead, you shuffle officials or jail them and call that reform.

¶ 05 On agriculture, fertilizer quantities are inadequate; farmer organizations are protesting. Instead of empowering domestic production, the Government talks of importing rice and salt—contradicting prior rhetoric.

¶ 06 On debt, simply increasing tax rates is not enough. You must expand the tax net and simplify it. Repeated tax hikes make Government “richer” while people get poorer and cost of living rises. Solutions require growing household incomes and private sector activity.

¶ 07 Policies like allowing bonded warehouses or slot machines while condemning bars and casinos are inconsistent. If you claimed tenders and transparency were essential, show the process now.

¶ 08 Eight months after the 2025 Budget, how much has actually been implemented? How will you meet ISB and external debt obligations? How will you grow State revenue and create jobs via investors? These need clear answers. Thank you.