The Hon. Nanda Bandara

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today is the day for the basic clarifications on the Appropriation Bill. Our Hon. President yesterday presented the Budget for 2026—an extremely organized and methodical Budget. A Budget is the economic vision an administration presents for the coming year. Reviewing the 2025 Budget as well, he presented this year’s speech. In 2025 we have only implemented about eight months so far, with two months more to complete its work.

¶ 02 The people elected the National People’s Power Government by rejecting the corrupt and opaque regimes that existed. Even though those regimes were sent home, their remnants remain. Today they sit as a so-called Opposition—what we call the “remnant Opposition”—criticizing everything we bring. I want to say we took power to build a good political culture. Within that, we have ended the retaliations after elections, the treacheries, the witch-hunts and removals of public servants from their jobs. We have created a political culture with ethics.

¶ 03 Within that framework, the NPP Government presented a preface to 2026 based on six main pillars: - Inclusive and broad-based economic growth - Higher income through export diversification - Ensuring debt sustainability - Strengthening the productive economy - Eradicating rural poverty - Promoting digitization

¶ 04 To realize these, our 159 Members, the President, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the Parliamentary Group are united with one purpose and are working hard.

¶ 05 For 2026, two main budgetary proposals are presented. Further, Rs. 25 billion has been allocated to strengthen the rural economy—Rs. 1 billion for each district—in a transparent and systematic way to eradicate rural poverty.

¶ 06 In this Budget, we set out a clear vision. This morning, during Hon. Harsha de Silva’s speech, rather than a Budget analysis, he said the country is heading toward an authoritarian presidency. We must recall: it was under the UNP that we saw the most authoritarian excesses—J. R. Jayewardene, and then Ranasinghe Premadasa. Their actors are still in this Parliament. We say our “Malima” Government takes collective decisions, listens to all, and is humane and sensitive; such excesses have not happened. In all three elections, the people saw how disciplined we were.

¶ 07 Next, I must name Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan. He still lives in a mindset of ethnic nationalism. His words and statements show he still dreams of Eelam or a federal state; says the North cannot manage without Provincial Councils. In the last Budget, the President allocated Rs. 5 billion to the North for bridges. Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramurthy, Hon. (Dr.) Sellathambi Thilakanathan and Hon. Mailseganam Jegatheeswaran are here; they are witnesses. Bridges are being built; roads are being built; international-level sports grounds are being built; ports are being developed. Yet, with hearts driven by the Diaspora’s prayers, they behave like this. The people of the North do not want such politics. They come to power and live in Colombo, not going to the North. They incite ethnic feelings to destroy this progress. We strongly reject such ethnic ideologies. The Sinhala leader approved by the people of the North is President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

¶ 08 I must also say a word about Hon. Kabir Hashim, who, like me, represents Mawanella. He spoke much about facilities when our Ministers and MPs travel abroad. We are not sending twenties, fifties or hundreds as earlier regimes did. Only necessary officers go. And should we row boats instead of flying? He also said no to cabs. He knows well that without at least a cab, one cannot work in a district like Kegalle and an electorate like Mawanella. The NPP Government gives cabs to state institutions for public service. MPs get a limited number. But unlike your time, we do not issue permits to sell; the vehicle permits are suspended. And when an MP ends his term, the cab is returned to the State. So do not say “no cabs”. These are available for those who need them, and returned when we go. We came to add something to people’s lives, not to take.

¶ 09 He also generalized that NPP’s 159 MPs are immature. If we are immature, then the dust gathered by your “remnants” in the Opposition is nothing but what gathers on the feet of those “immature.”

¶ 10 Give me a little more time, Hon. Presiding Member.

¶ 11 The initial part of Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna’s speech should be expunged. He said “Victory to Eelam” and that they would realize their Eelam dream. Such statements cannot be in Hansard. Please have them withdrawn. Whether represented by diaspora or anyone with mental aberration, we do not care.