The Hon. Muhammad Faizal

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim. Assalamu Alaikum, Ayubowan, Vanakkam!

¶ 02 Hon. Deputy Chair, I welcome the FSS presented for the welfare of the country and its people and commend the Government.

¶ 03 The nation is economically backward, and people struggle for food, shelter and livelihood. As the country is heavily indebted, prices and taxes have risen, intensifying hardship. Past governments borrowed imprudently and used funds improperly; such borrowing benefited neither the country nor the people—only leaders lived comfortably. This FSS will help guide the country and people towards a better future.

¶ 04 We must avoid borrowing for non-essential, “luxury” projects and borrow only for essentials. Past borrowing without plans has burdened people with taxes and debt while funding projects that yield little benefit—like an airport that brings no real return, or the Lotus Tower which lights the skyline but not the lives of Colombo’s poor, who struggle even to pay taxes.

¶ 05 Borrowing must be planned. If an individual earns 100, he must borrow less than 100 to manage life; likewise, a Government must borrow below its means. Otherwise, the people bear the burden. To rescue them, we accept this FSS. Without resolving debt, we cannot expect progress. Successive governments did not reduce borrowing; it kept increasing due to lack of planning. There are “luxury” debts and “essential” debts; the latter provide for people’s needs and can yield genuine benefits.

¶ 06 Past rulers did not use borrowed funds to increase domestic production: if they had, we would not import cement or milk powder. We have ample potential to produce both, yet failed to develop those industries. We have many tanks and paddy lands—had we rehabilitated them properly, we would not need to import rice. Instead, funds were misused and looted, leaving people under debt and tax burdens.

¶ 07 We must improve many sectors, notably transport—develop the road network. Tourism Ministers spoke of promoting tourism but took little action. Our Government is now creating viable pathways—for example, developing Kalpitiya as a tourism hub, with projects progressing well. Thus, we are taking steps to protect the country and its people.

¶ 08 Hon. Deputy Chair

¶ 09 Hon. Member, your time is up.