The Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I am pleased to speak in this budget debate on behalf of the people of Nuwara Eliya District where I live. This budget contains items that should truly gladden the people—especially the Tamil people of the hill country. For decades, many Members and governments failed to deliver for the hill-country Tamil people.

¶ 02 After 76 years since Independence, no Parliament had taken national-level decisions regarding our community with a 200-year history in this country. In this 10th Parliament under the National People’s Power government, our President—who is also Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development—has, for the first time, recognized “the hill country” and “hill-country Tamil people” in a national budget. That recognition itself is significant.

¶ 03 Opposition members who claim leadership of the hill country asked, “What have we received in this budget?” They often blame the plantation companies for every hill-country problem, while collaborating with them, and as a result many rights were denied. In contrast, this Parliament has decided to extend national-scale benefits to working people, including the hill country.

¶ 04 Opposition members said there are housing, salary, health, education problems, and the NPP government must answer. True—but in the past 76 years, what decisions did previous Parliaments take to raise living standards, address wages, health, or infrastructure of the hill country? None. Today they shout as a warning to us; but we are the government that has identified these issues.

¶ 05 In areas such as Dayagama, Maskeliya, Bogawantalawa in Nuwara Eliya, and in Badulla District, infrastructure is in very poor condition. Roads are so bad that even horses with shoes would struggle. Rights were not delivered. There are estates without even a qualified doctor. Women face difficulties meeting basic needs at work; even toilet facilities are lacking. Opposition members who now shout could not provide these. Our government has identified the real problems.

¶ 06 In this budget, the President has specifically addressed housing: Rs. 4,267 million is allocated for estate housing and infrastructure development, with short- and long-term solutions. Young hill-country Tamils live without jobs or hope; Rs. 2,450 million is allocated for vocational training, livelihoods and infrastructure to improve their lives.

¶ 07 Hill-country schools lack basic facilities like drinking water and toilets. This budget allocates Rs. 866 million to establish “smart” classrooms in hill-country schools.

¶ 08 For the first time in history, the daily wage of plantation workers is addressed at the national level—Rs. 1,700 per day. Previously, after bargaining with companies, only Rs. 100–200 increases came after long protests. Now, a national decision is made; on 17th February, the President announced this in the budget speech.

¶ 09 To opposition members of the hill country: for 77 years, across generations, you held office but failed even to secure the status of “hill-country Tamil people,” let alone improve lives. Today you speak loudly, but you did not deliver rights. The NPP government includes hill-country estate communities in national policy—just as it considers farmers, public and private employees, youth, women, and children nationwide. Whatever criticisms you make, we, as members of the NPP government, pledge to deliver, step by step, the rights and solutions to the hill country.

¶ 10 To our hill-country people: join the only government that has nationally recognized you and can deliver your rights—the National People’s Power government.

¶ 11 Additionally, I wish to speak about nearly two million estate workers who have endured great hardship over 200 years. For 77 years after Independence, many MPs claimed to represent “our” estate community here, yet what rights did they secure? Our people were used as a vote machine. Today, recognition of “Malaiyagam” (hill country) and the estate community is a great achievement for our people, made possible by the NPP government.