The Hon. Dilith Jayaweera

¶ 01 Yes, a doctorate! And, Hon. Chairman, it is nice to see you, after a while, in the Chair. Assalamu’alaikum!

¶ 02 Hon. Chairman, during the second Budget Debate of the new Government, under the Head of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, I must briefly raise a few important points. I note the Minister and the State Minister are present.

¶ 03 If there is one number one item we must pursue for the country, it is to awaken entrepreneurship and to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among our people and leaders to create wealth. The revenue side of this Budget is focused on debt and tax collection. But on the wealth-creation side, there is no strategy articulated on how we will create new value.

¶ 04 We are in a sad situation; we must compete with the region and the world. Emerging economies are racing ahead with clear strategies. While we are constrained by IMF frameworks, we must negotiate from strength. These institutions currently see us as weak. I am not anti-IMF, but we must engage them strong, not submissive.

¶ 05 We have been led here by the destruction of national spirit and patriotism, by placing pliable individuals in power to serve external agendas. This Budget too confirms that tendency. Our people are compassionate, but they deserve leadership with a national agenda.

¶ 06 We should not be slaves to a Western narrative just because we wear suits and ties. We must think from our motherland’s perspective and correct structural issues without selling out the entire nation, dragging our people into an inescapable economic pit.

¶ 07 On entrepreneurship, you cannot just add a subject called “entrepreneurship” to a curriculum and expect change. From early childhood, education must build a mindset to create jobs, not to run behind jobs. That is the thinking of the new world. A genuine entrepreneurial path requires sincerity.

¶ 08 Tourism is a clear example. Along the southern and eastern coasts, some tourists have turned into de facto entrepreneurs, selling goods, alcohol, cigarettes, and even engaging in illegal activities, taking money out without paying taxes—often organized via Telegram groups. Tourism is our lowest-hanging fruit, but we are being exploited. Please look into this with urgency, enforce the law, and ensure value stays in Sri Lanka.