The Hon. Rohana Bandara

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity.

¶ 02 If you ask about the Budget presentation, we’d give it 100 out of 100—the best presentation in our parliamentary history. The President performed well on stage and in this House. But if you ask about the Budget itself, in my village idiom, it is a “tak-kadi” Budget—built on dreams and fairy tales. Everything depends on money, yet the actual allocations are Rs. 50 million here, Rs. 100 million there—very meagre—while spinning big stories.

¶ 03 The biggest talk is public sector salary increases—the largest ever, they say. They claim past governments ignored public servants but now they care—because over 80% of public servants canvassed and voted for them. They must be treated well; but how was it done? By pushing the burden onto a future government—folding allowances into basic pay and showing it as a big raise, while what reaches the hand is small once deductions are made. They know their time is short; they are shifting the sin forward while boasting today.

¶ 04 Under Yahapalana, of which you were also part, there was a 107% increase across grades, added to basic—leading to higher vehicle duties; yet many public servants could then lease small cars and manage. Today’s structure will be felt in April when payslips arrive.

¶ 05 You came lecturing us on national security, telling us to bring benches and listen. Now, those who promised to safeguard national security are hiding between benches, trying to secure their own safety. You claim to have arrested the gunman in the recent court shooting, but intelligence had confirmed details weeks ago—including the woman, Pinpura Devage Ishara Sewwandi. Still, gunmen entered the court and escaped. The shooter was caught only after coordinates and a vehicle number were supplied from abroad by underworld figures—while our STF went in civvies, loitered, and even fraternized until a uniformed team arrived. Now, after filming everything, how will you conduct an identification parade?

¶ 06 You built trust with the Christian community promising to catch the Easter masterminds. Yet the alleged mastermind is gone; you only caught the triggerman. The female accomplice remains at large. The underworld knew which court (No. 9) he would attend and that he must also appear at Court No. 5, enabling the ambush. Now you have increased STF and police around Parliament and housing complexes. Is that to protect buildings? You should be ashamed. If an MP is killed tomorrow, the government must bear full responsibility. MPs speak for 22.5 million people; ensure their security so they can take crucial decisions for the nation.

¶ 07 On private sector minimum wage increases—raising it to Rs. 30,000 changes only the ETF/EPF deductions and monthly budgeting frame. Find me anyone working for Rs. 30,000 today. These are nice stories, not ground reality.