The Hon. M.K.M. Aslam

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member. We are engaged today in an important debate. A Government Budget must be a structured, well-planned report designed so that development reaches all people.

¶ 02 Our Government’s operations began in 2025. Continuing that, the Government has presented the 2026 Budget. We welcome it. Through this Budget, economic development must occur, and its benefits must reach the people. It is a comprehensive plan covering all sectors. We must remember: this comprehensive Budget has been presented as the country emerges from bankruptcy. That is welcome.

¶ 03 We can see several key areas: stable, inclusive growth; higher income through export diversification; ensuring debt sustainability; strengthening a productive economy; eradicating rural poverty; and promoting digitalization. Especially under rural poverty alleviation, multiple ministries will implement programmes to bring relief and success to rural people.

¶ 04 In our villages, many are without homes. Through this Budget, we will directly build 10,000 houses. Also, through the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and Social Empowerment, the Ministry of Urban Development will implement a housing programme for urban residents, and with the assistance of the Government of India, 2,000 houses for the Plantation community. Various housing programmes will be implemented through this Budget.

¶ 05 In the past, in each Budget, some Ministers or Presidents focused on areas they lived in; some focused on ethnicity. In the last Budget, Rs. 5 billion was allocated to the North, while the South did not get such funds. No one in the South asked why. But today, MPs from the North ask why there is no allocation for the North this time, or whether the North was forgotten.

¶ 06 Hon. Members, we must keep in mind: if one house is allocated per Grama Niladhari Division, that is for both North and South. If salaries of public servants are increased, that is for both North and South. If funds are allocated for education, that is for North, South and West. It is because we kept separating things that we became bankrupt and did not achieve success. An Hon. Member from the North asked what development we are giving to the North. He spoke of the Kankesanthurai Harbour. For the development of that harbour, this Budget allocates Rs. 300 million. In the 2025 Budget, funds were allocated to rehabilitate the Vattuvagal Bridge. Similarly, in the East, to complete some projects started by others, the Government has allocated funds. Regardless of whose name is on it, Rs. 300 million has been allocated to complete the Nintavur Urban Council auditorium. Many spoke with an ethnic mindset, claiming a Sinhala Government will never bring relief to our people. We must change that. Today we see a beautiful governance that brings together people of North, East and South under one umbrella.

¶ 07 Hon. Members, I politely request this: even today the underworld has some hold in our country. We must eradicate narcotics and underworld activities across North, East, South and West. For over 76 years, corruption has been prevalent—more or less. What the people wanted was a corruption-free Government and a peaceful environment. First, our people asked us to create an environment to live happily. Second, to make this a corruption-free country. In the first year, before services of the NPP Government reached the people, we were criticized in various ways. But today, they speak from their own experience of how our governance has been over the past year.

¶ 08 Sometimes I feel the Opposition appear more socialist than us. I ask: are you happy that estate workers get a Rs. 1,750 wage increase? Whether their basic salary plus allowances reaches a total—are you happy or not? You must be happy; after all, they are your constituents.

¶ 09 We do not need to ask an MP whether people in the North are happy today; they are very happy. One Hon. Member served as DCC Chairman from 2016 to 2019. What factory did he bring to Kilinochchi or Jaffna? Jaffna was filled with bars, and personal pockets were filled. He also said the Government had allocated 15% of total outlays to Defence. I will prove that false. The Government has allocated 8.1% to Defence: 4.5% for Defence and 3.6% for Public Security. He also said Education got 5%; also false. We allocated 7.8% to Education.

¶ 10 Our allocations were made while the country has not fully emerged from the underworld’s grip and the effects of war. Compare globally: India allocates 13% to Defence; Bangladesh 9%; China 8%; Japan 6-8%. Please do not begrudge people their happiness. We have submitted a comprehensive, people-centric Budget that reaches everyone. If there are shortcomings, tell us. We are ready to correct them at any level. Thank you.