The Hon. Dinesh Hemantha

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, at this moment when Regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act are before us for approval, and as some seek to cast doubts over the Government’s economic measures and their outcomes over the last two days of this debate, I wish to briefly review the economic decisions we have taken during the nearly one and a half years we have been in office.

¶ 02 Any country plans its economy by forecasting the future—both internal factors and external, uncontrollable conditions—and moves through those forecasts toward set targets. A basic principle of economics is that lower risk yields lower returns and higher risk yields higher returns. In governing, our National People’s Power Government had opportunities to choose between these two paths. As a people’s government, in the truest sense, we consistently chose actions that confirm public trust. We avoided easy choices that would deliver meagre long‑term benefits and instead took difficult decisions that would secure lasting prosperity for the people. Throughout the past one and a half years, we have pursued those difficult, but necessary, decisions.

¶ 03 While we were preparing the 2026 Budget and debating Heads of Expenditure, Sri Lanka unexpectedly faced one of the worst natural disasters in history—the “Divva” cyclone. At that time, a large number of Opposition Members—if not the entirety—demanded that we amend or revise the 2026 Budget to create a special relief package for the affected, by cutting provisions from certain Ministries and Departments.

¶ 04 We, too, had two possible roads. The easy path was to cut development allocations for 2026 and divert funds to relief. The difficult path was to maintain development without dilution, keep policy continuity for 2026, and separately design and implement an extraordinary relief package. Choosing the second path is challenging for any government. Yet, to affirm that we are truly a people’s government, we chose that difficult second path: we did not alter the 2026 Budget, and we implemented an unprecedented relief package for those affected by the disaster.

¶ 05 At first the Opposition said they would support any decision during the disaster—especially to change the Budget. We proceeded with the difficult choice. As the first month neared, they clamoured daily: “Have you paid Rs. 25,000 for house cleaning? Rs. 50,000 for household goods? Rs. 15,000 for school books?” That refrain lasted a month. Today, that refrain has ceased because those promised benefits under the Divva disaster relief package have been delivered.

¶ 06 Then, after a month and a half to two months, the criticism shifted: “Have you paid the house rents? Not a single rent has been paid.” Today, that, too, has been addressed—the eligible beneficiaries have received rent payments under the relief package.

¶ 07 After three months, the next refrain was: “You said you will build houses—have you started? Show us a completed house!” I can say with pride that house construction for all eligible beneficiaries across every Divisional Secretariat affected by the “8960” disaster has commenced in an orderly manner. Now the latest taunt is: “Are they finished? Have you handed them over?” As we have answered each charge responsibly in past months, we will complete these houses as quickly as possible and settle families.

¶ 08 Hon. Deputy Speaker, while we are resettling the Divva-affected, there is a sad reality: we are not building only for those hit by the 2026 cyclone. We are also addressing long‑pending cases from natural disasters in years like 2012 and 2016—cases previous governments failed to resolve. Without distinction of ethnicity, religion, or period, in 2026 we are delivering relief and meeting our targets.

¶ 09 Two final points on Matale District. Across all 11 DS divisions, the process of identifying required land for housing the affected is already underway. Some lands must be obtained from the Department of Forest Conservation. Unlike past unlawful practices of clearing forest for favourites, we act strictly within the law. We cannot resettle people just anywhere; therefore, in collaboration with the National Building Research Organisation, we are selecting geologically suitable lands to ensure these communities will not face future tragedies.

¶ 10 In Matale, all land needed for housing has been identified and acquisition processes are ongoing. Where people own land, construction has begun. In particular, in the Laggala electorate, lands in all four DS divisions have been arranged for resettlement.

¶ 11 In governing, when we must take challenging decisions that yield greater long‑term benefits to the people, we will do so unflinchingly—today, tomorrow and for future generations. With that, and thanking you for the opportunity, I conclude, Hon. Deputy Speaker.