The Hon. Dinindu Saman

¶ 01 Madam Deputy Chair, in this Budget debate I recall former President of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam’s words: “A dream is not what you see in sleep; it is the thing that does not let you sleep.” Indeed, this inaugural Budget of the National People’s Power is the foundation for the dream we have long held—how to make the country beautiful, how to share the economy equally, and how to ensure the economy reaches those at the bottom. We assumed office and presented a people’s Budget to make that dream real.

¶ 02 We did not present this Budget in a comfortable country. It is a country bankrupted, the economy collapsed, where theft, fraud, corruption and thuggery had become a culture. Yet we have presented a successful Budget that shares relief across the whole system. Rs. 604 billion is allocated to health—the highest ever—to ensure people can obtain essential health services when many cannot even buy a strip of medicine.

¶ 03 From education, Rs. 619 billion—the highest ever—has been allocated. As a former university student leader, I recall how we were tear-gassed and baton-charged for asking to raise Mahapola by Rs. 500 or Rs. 1,000. Those who unleashed tear gas and cracked down now weep crocodile tears saying Rs. 2,500 is not enough. Students did not protest now for an increase; we, as a government, voluntarily decided to raise Mahapola.

¶ 04 From primary education to university, the Budget provides support. We focus on nutrition of primary students, on teacher capacity development, on creating suitable learning environments, and decent pay structures—resources to be shared across all children. We have also focused on developing sports schools—including in Uva—reversing the neglect that eliminated sports facilities in poorer schools like my own Dharmadutha College in Badulla.

¶ 05 This is the first Budget of a people’s, democratic government. We have ensured that benefits are shared equally across North, South and East, creating an economy of fairly shared benefits.

¶ 06 Unlike earlier governments that allocated money for children’s shoes and books as showpieces, we have still allocated Rs. 619 billion for school education while focusing on real facility development. The results of past neglect are plain today; under our government we will not let future generations suffer the same fate.

¶ 07 Poverty must be eradicated. Badulla District is among the poorest, with three of the poorest DS divisions. Poverty is linked to education; by educating children well, we can end poverty. At the same time, while many receive welfare, we have not cut them off; we have proposed a fair approach, and have also allocated funds to strengthen those families’ own economic capacity.

¶ 08 We believe this Budget lays the groundwork to uplift the economy and society and eradicate poverty. The Opposition may not understand; we did not bring a “butter Budget,” but a democratic, people’s Budget. We must also pay for your sins: over Rs. 20,000 million is allocated to pay SriLankan Airlines’ debts and interest—debts created under your governments. While paying for that, we still direct this Budget towards development.

¶ 09 Developing school infrastructure in difficult areas like Badulla and raising vocational training stipends from Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 5,000—these show the best vision and programme for education. These students will hold tomorrow; therefore, we have provided for them.

¶ 10 As a public servant and union leader, I am pleased: we long led struggles for wage increases while Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government punished protesters and rewarded those who stayed home. Now, our government has granted a fair wage structure to all public servants.

¶ 11 To all public servants: over 80 per cent of you voted for this government. Do not be misled by the Opposition’s false statements. This is the government that has properly looked after you and implemented a correct wage increase.

¶ 12 In our difficult province, we have also allocated funds to address the human–elephant conflict and provide relief to affected people.

¶ 13 What this country needs is national unity. Even years after the war, some still peddle racist narratives in Parliament. We must not return to that. This Budget includes proposals to build unity and brotherhood among communities and to create a Sri Lankan nation. We propose to celebrate a “Sri Lankan Day” and have allocated Rs. 300 million for it—an all-island cultural observance embracing North, South and East. No past rulers even conceived of such a day; we will build that unity and take the first steps towards a newly developed nation.

¶ 14 We believe the people understand the effort made by the Malima Government to allocate a fair share for every sector. I saw a post that said: “For the first time, we saw a government giving to others by sacrificing what is its own.” We have only seen parents do that. For the first time, a parent-like government has been formed—one that treats people like a mother and father. Therefore, to the people: you now have a government that works for you. Trust it, and we are ready to work on your behalf. Thank you.