The Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I thank you for the time to express my views today.

¶ 02 This is the Government’s Budget presented at the end of its first year. It is a good opportunity to assess how far, in practice, the Government has worked on the ground, and to review its performance. Whatever is said about having four or five more years, every government works at maximum pace during the first year or two; thereafter maintaining that momentum becomes difficult. So, this first year is the time to perform at full capacity. The presentation of a new Budget is therefore the right moment to see how earlier decisions have translated into real outcomes.

¶ 03 Let me address one area first. At the end of his Budget Speech, the Hon. President requested the Opposition’s support at least for the measures against organized crime and drugs. We, as the Opposition, will extend both our hands in support. However, there is a problem: some groups try to create a narrative that although this Government has been in office for only a year, the drugs now being sold were brought in before. The reality is that we have no issue with the President, the IGP, or the Service Commanders. But due to certain lapses in control, drugs and other issues have escalated to the point where the President himself appeals everywhere for the Opposition’s support. We say: do not limit this to rhetoric or platforms. Some things are not for Parliament or public pronouncement. There are proper methods to control this situation. If we are to save 22 million people, do what is necessary beyond media appearances. We will extend every support and strength we can.

¶ 04 On the Budget, there are two parts. First, the external Budget—the one made to be seen by the world: the World Bank, external creditors, IMF—boasting of a historic primary surplus of 2.3 percent of GDP, USD 6 billion in reserves, and 4.8 percent growth. But we must also examine the internal Budget—the impact on our economy and households—best done by comparing the 2025 Budget presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake with what has actually been implemented. Regardless of good-looking external statistics, the internal Budget—what households feel—is seen through that comparison.

¶ 05 Much has been made of the primary surplus of 2.3 percent. But that can be a bad surplus if funds meant for development are returned to the Treasury and major projects stall. This is not animosity; our own past governments fell into similar traps—grand allocations on paper, but by next December, the same limited cadre struggles to execute. Yes, there are now many experts and academics involved, which is good, but it remains the same administrative machinery. We must assess outcomes.

¶ 06 The World Bank has flagged administrative inefficiency. Funds are allocated by the National Budget Department and released to ministries, but the degree to which ministries actually spend is a serious issue. Unspent funds total about Rs. 642 billion. Looking into the 2025 Budget details shows several examples:

¶ 07 - Rural infrastructure: Rs. 4,000 million was allocated for rural roads and bridges. Actual spend: Rs. 272 million. About 93 percent returned to the Treasury. - Productive economy facilities: Rs. 500 million allocated for the Kerawalapitiya Customs examination yard; Rs. 500 million for a Wayangoda inland container yard. Progress is near zero; procurement committees are still preparing recommendations after a full year. - Digital economy: Ambition to reach USD 15 billion, with the digital ID as a first step. Allocation: Rs. 1,838 million; progress 0.18 percent—i.e., 99.82 percent unspent. Workshops and launches do not build a digital economy; we must ask where the money went. - Investment Protection Act: Announced for 2025, still not tabled. While the President’s intent is clear and he now promises to bring it early next year, it was not delivered in the past 12 months. - Support for persons with disabilities: Rs. 300 million allocated for wheelchairs and assistive devices; spending near zero.

¶ 08 On entrepreneurship: - Only Rs. 500 million was allocated in 2025 for youth entrepreneurship; progress near zero. Now, Rs. 80 billion is proposed. If Rs. 500 million could not be used, can Rs. 80 billion be deployed in 365 days? This needs a 2027 plan; otherwise, fanfare today will not deliver results tomorrow. - Fisheries: Rs. 200 million for expanding inland fisheries; progress near zero. - Solid waste in Anuradhapura: Rs. 750 million allocated; progress near zero.

¶ 09 On the primary surplus: the achievement came from underspending (Rs. 642 billion unspent) and from a one-off revenue spike (lifting vehicle import restrictions generating about Rs. 700 billion). These are not recurring. If normal capital spending occurs next year, the picture changes.

¶ 10 On State-Owned Enterprises: According to Advocata research, about Rs. 1.5 trillion has been spent on SOEs; in 2024 alone roughly Rs. 450 billion was allocated to bail them out. Without proper reforms and administrative alignment, no government—this one or the next—can sustain progress. The same officials manage these systems; unless they are aligned, even a new plan will falter.

¶ 11 I will conclude by saying that without a clear, realistic implementation plan, moving the country forward will be difficult. Thank you for the time.