The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, when joining the debate on the government’s inaugural budget, I must first recall that the people have entrusted our government with power for five years. This is our first budget. We have presented a programme of work to the people. We gave a number of promises, and there is time to fulfill them. There will be four more budgets after this. I remind the House that within that period we will duly implement our programme.

¶ 02 This morning, the Leader of the Opposition said this budget burdens the people. Yes, a certain small group faces restraint. But I must emphasize: through this budget, the general public is not burdened.

¶ 03 Accordingly, benefits to the general public have been increased. Our schoolchildren are here in the gallery. We have introduced special assistance programmes to provide books to our young children. The Mahapola scholarship has been increased. Salaries for public and private sector employees have been increased in an unprecedented manner. The basic salary of public servants has been raised. We have introduced support programmes for preschools. Dedicated assistance schemes have been provided for children in child care homes; and importantly, responsibility for those children after they turn 18 is affirmed within this budget with funds allocated.

¶ 04 There are special assistance programmes for persons with disabilities. Fertilizer subsidies for farmers have been increased by Rs. 20,000 for two hectares. Elder’s allowances have been increased. Assistance to kidney patients has been increased. Fuel prices have been reduced; from around Rs. 360 when we assumed office, now down to about Rs. 280. Contrary to the Opposition’s claim, electricity tariffs for households have been reduced by 20%, and by 30% for industries. There are special assistance programmes for pregnant mothers, with funds provided. The Triposha institution, which had been slated for sale, has been revived, and Rs. 5 billion allocated to Triposha. The scholarship stipend for students who pass Grade 5 has been doubled, and the school meal allocation increased.

¶ 05 For irrigation—tanks, anicuts, and reservoirs—Rs. 7800 crore will be spent within eight months, benefiting rural communities. Assistance for students in vocational education has been increased. To enable ordinary people to carry out livelihood activities on easier terms and access credit, this budget proposes a development bank. To revive the rural economy, a large work programme is proposed under our ministry headed by our subject minister who is present in the House.

¶ 06 Large allocations are made to education and health. Considerable funds are allocated to agriculture and agro-industry. In every sector this budget places special focus—so much for the claim that it “burdens” the public. In fact, in an unprecedented way, this budget provides a host of supports to ordinary people, creating strength and relief to uplift their economy, with significant funding. If there is a burden, to whom is it?

¶ 07 The Leader of the Opposition said this budget resembles Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa budgets. Yes, those were “family-sharing” budgets—many ministers from the same family, and large sums allocated to them. This budget does not do that.

¶ 08 We pledged before and during the election to change the prevailing political culture—turn it upside down. We have begun to do so lawfully and will continue. So, who is “cut” now? Whose privileges? Today we do not see road motorcades of ministers; none of our ministers took official residences; look at the frugality in vehicle use. The limitless privileges once enjoyed by rulers have been curtailed and abolished by us—from the President down to MPs. Lawful presidential privileges have been severely curtailed. Steps are underway to abolish them legally. In past budgets, presidents, prime ministers and ministers secured large allocations for their vote heads—hundreds and thousands of millions. That culture is changed and cut in this budget. If anyone is “burdened,” it is those whose privileges we curtailed. We have redirected that money for these children’s future and for ordinary people—those who toil and struggle.

¶ 09 On the IMF: before this, we went to the IMF 16 times yet did not fix the problems. We did not go to the IMF by choice; when we took office we were already trapped there. Why did we have to go? Because those who ruled before bankrupted the economy. On 12 April 2022 it was announced internationally that Sri Lanka had defaulted. Who put the country there? Not us. The Supreme Court has discussed this; its determination named several Rajapaksas among others as responsible. All those who governed contributed, in varying measure, to bankruptcy. The budgets you presented before led to this outcome.

¶ 10 Within two months of taking office we freed the country from default. That is a major achievement. We are only at the start. Do not point fingers as if we have governed five or six years; this is our first budget. We have hauled the country up from the bottom of the well; by the next budget the situation will be improved further. We will present four more budgets, and by the fourth you will see a straightened, revived country. We have the strength to take the country there. I now conclude.