The Hon. (Mrs.) Hiruni Wijesinghe, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, yesterday our Hon. President presented the 80th Budget to Parliament. With that, the Opposition is in a crisis—scrambling to find arguments. Since morning, none spoke successfully or ably to present a cogent argument against our Budget. They watch in dismay as we, who took over a bankrupt country in 2024, present such an excellent Budget within a year.

¶ 02 We have sound fiscal discipline and vision, and capable public officials working together. I say the 80th Budget is superior to the 79th. Likewise, the 81st Budget for 2027, which we will present, will surpass this.

¶ 03 When we took office, various so-called economic experts said it would take 10–15 years to return to 2019 levels; some said wait till 2048 to become developed. Yet by this December, one year in, we have restored the 2019 economic conditions and are building a strong economy for our people.

¶ 04 After the Budget, I listened to the Opposition Leader. He said this was not a Budget made with feet on the ground. The people know who is grounded: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and this Government, or the Opposition led by Sajith Premadasa. Let the people decide whether this Budget is grounded. To demonstrate, I cite examples: from plantation workers who earn dollars for the country to public servants, to women, children, pensioners, persons with disabilities, and the differently-abled workforce—we have allocated substantial funds covering all sectors.

¶ 05 Another example that this is a grounded Budget: it addresses stray dogs, elephants and conservation. This is a Budget that talks about people as well as animals. When was such a Budget presented before?

¶ 06 On rail gatekeepers: since 2013 they have received only Rs. 7,500 per month for work that is a social service more than a job; some days from 4.30 a.m. to midnight. We have doubled this allowance to Rs. 15,000.

¶ 07 Hon. Presiding Member, I request one extra minute as the Opposition wasted our valuable time. An important matter: they said poverty and inequality are increasing. When we took office in 2024, poverty was 24.5%. By 2025 it has reduced to 22.7%. Unemployment from 4.4% in 2024 is now 3.8% in 2025. We do not stop at statistics.

¶ 08 Through this Budget, Rs. 25,000 million is allocated to the National Campaign for Eradicating Poverty via Praja Shakthi. In addition to decentralized funds and local authority allocations, every district receives Rs. 1,000 million to develop their own villages. Committees for the Praja Shakthi programme are being appointed; once funds reach the field, from January we will begin work.

¶ 09 For children and education, large sums are allocated. In 2026, 27,000 houses will be built to meet housing needs; and children leaving care at 18 will receive up to Rs. 2 million as grants to build a house or buy land.

¶ 10 For education, Rs. 704 billion is allocated. One point without obstruction: in the 2025 Budget, the Mahapola scholarship was increased by Rs. 10,000. In 2006, it was Rs. 2,500; it took nine years to increase it to Rs. 5,000 in 2015. The 2019 Government promised Rs. 7,500 but did not deliver. Former Higher Education Minister Bandula Gunawardana later said it would be given the next year as Rs. 10,000. We, having taken power, delivered Rs. 7,500 within a year and increased it to Rs. 10,000 in our second Budget.

¶ 11 Finally, when the Opposition failed to mount arguments, we even heard praise mixed with worry: a former Minister said the Treasury is overflowing with a trillion-rupee surplus but they fear how we will manage it. Let me say: we know how to generate revenue and how to manage it; not a cent will be wasted. We will deploy public funds for the people and make this a developed country. Thank you.