The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha

¶ 01 You raise macro and micro outcomes. Economy-wide, growth is crucial; we consistently moved towards above 8 per cent growth quarter-on-quarter this year. On the micro side, poverty had risen over years; the Gini coefficient had increased above 0.45. To address this, we have launched the Prajashakthi Programme with Rs. 25 billion in 2026, focusing on village development and empowerment. GDP per capita is rising—from about USD 3,000 when we took office to around USD 4,500 now. Structural issues remain, but we aim for steady growth and development.

¶ 02 Regarding “repurposing,” the Rs. 500 billion for cyclone “Ditta” is separate. The capital expenditure under foreign funding—Rs. 1,480 billion at about 4 per cent of GDP—has not been altered. There is no stoppage or diversion of those projects. The Rs. 500 billion supplementary is distinct and financed with appropriate measures.