The Hon. Dewananda Suraweera

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I present my thoughts on the 2026 Budget with pride and joy. The people, on 21 September 2024, made a historic decision, written in gold, and reaffirmed it in November.

¶ 02 The NPP, understanding that mandate, has presented a historic Budget after a year—one presented after a period without misuse of public funds or undue privileges, within a new political culture. Therefore we present this Budget with happiness.

¶ 03 In our history, what was written about Budgets and public representatives was different. Today some Opposition Members are in disarray.

¶ 04 [Expunged on the order of the Chair.]

¶ 05 The Opposition is in turmoil. This all shows our victory. The NPP’s idea is to build a “prosperous country—beautiful life,” a complete nation where people can live happily. This is the Budget for our Government’s second year. But you cannot build a perfect country in one or two years. Why? For 76 years they consumed this country—ravaged it. Society went from cruelty to extreme cruelty; from inhumanity to utter inhumanity; from depravity to utter depravity. Systems were broken; the economy bankrupted; the country turned into a grave. That is the country we inherited. This is our second Budget after a victorious year.

¶ 06 In February 2025, our Finance Minister—the President—presented the 2025 Budget and achieved all financing targets. This Budget surpasses even that: its statistics and data have been exceeded.

¶ 07 Moreover, our current programme has been praised internationally: in various rankings, at state technical levels, and by the World Bank. The Opposition sees this Budget like a thorn in the eye—that is why it pains them.

¶ 08 I must answer the Opposition. Hon. Kabir Hashim is not here. They are adept at showing ghosts and making prophecies to the people because people like ghosts and prophecies. Historically, the Opposition spoke prophecies about us. Now too, they manufacture ghosts about this Budget. We are presenting a clear, target-driven Budget to take the country forward, while they prophesy.

¶ 09 There are those who love such ghosts. To please them, they show these apparitions. This is not the time to answer all that; time is short. Finally, let me say: this Budget targets eradicating rural poverty, building a strong economy, ensuring a healthy life, building an environmentally sustainable country, and developing a safe, efficient, environmentally friendly, sustainable transport service. If there are economic gains, they will flow to the entire nation, to the lowest strata as well. We are delighted to implement this Budget.

¶ 10 Thank you for the opportunity, Hon. Presiding Member.