The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development

¶ 01 Mr. Deputy Speaker, three important issues are discussed today. The Opposition Leader claimed the Government suddenly woke up; that is not correct. From the day Israel and the US launched attacks targeting Iran, we began taking measures—Cabinet committees on transport impacts, on food security, and on ensuring continuity of public services. Where necessary, we limited fuel consumption using QR-based controls to manage the developing power and energy challenge.

¶ 02 On the assertion of “only seven percent” being spent from “savings”: the President already told this House we are spending Rs. 50 billion this year—on top of Rs. 27 billion last year—outside the Budget for victims of Cyclone “Michaung.” Budget discipline and higher revenues, not just “tax upon tax,” enabled the Treasury to build fiscal space. Therefore, add that Rs. 50 billion to today’s Rs. 100 billion—already about Rs. 150 billion in relief.

¶ 03 Regarding fertilizer “shortages,” scaremongering helps no one. We are from Anuradhapura; we understand farming practice and the Government’s distribution mechanism. We have discussed with fertilizer companies, the Department of Agrarian Development and the Ministry of Agriculture. Under the leadership of Ministers Lal Kantha and Bimal Rathnayake, inter‑ministerial committees meet fortnightly on production, transport and essential supplies. We have examined fertilizer availability in detail.