The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, I move the following Motion at the adjournment:

¶ 02 “That among the promises made to the People in the National People’s Power manifesto ‘A Thriving Nation, A Beautiful Life’—including economic management, relief through reduction of taxes on goods and services and removal of VAT, strengthening a production-based economy, protecting the rule of law, further strengthening independent commissions, drafting a new Constitution to enhance people’s sovereignty, holding Provincial Council Elections immediately, and pursuing a foreign policy that strengthens state diplomatic relations—the Government has, over the past year, failed to implement a credible, people-oriented program.”

¶ 03 The first 100 days are critical for any democratically elected Government. Instead, the “Reform Government” implemented IMF conditions—some it had promised to amend or repeal—in a manner that burdens the People, and, without a targeted plan, pushed state enterprises into deep difficulties based on IMF conditionalities. Therefore, we call upon the Government to implement its manifesto “A Thriving Nation, A Beautiful Life.”

¶ 04 Mr. Deputy Speaker, the World Bank now reports that one in four families in Sri Lanka is poor, and a further 10 percent are at high risk—meaning 35 percent of people are poor or near-poor. Promises were made to reduce the cost of living, to remove VAT on school supplies, etc. None of this has happened. Families’ purchasing power has fallen; malnutrition, especially among children, has increased. Both direct and indirect taxes have been increased as per IMF dictates, while incomes have fallen and expenditures risen. Instead of a “Beautiful Life,” the People are living harsher lives.

¶ 05 Regarding public sector salaries, promises were made to increase within six months and to introduce an automatic formula. But now the President’s actions are contrary to what SJB leaders claimed during the campaign. Public servants overwhelmingly supported the Government via postal votes; now their salary anomalies, especially teachers’ issues, are ignored—even though many Government MPs are teachers by profession.

¶ 06 Yesterday, a supplementary estimate of Rs. 36 billion was passed—not for productive infrastructure but to service debt. The Government that vowed there would be no supplementary estimates has gone back on its word. With the highest electricity tariffs in the region, investors will not come. Instead of the promised one-third reduction, we now face a 6.8% increase on the 14th. With such conditions, existing industries are closing, and new investment will not come. Even the much-touted 10 new investment zones have not materialized; for example, the Bingiriya EPZ, developed in 2018, saw no new investments this year.

¶ 07 In short, the economy is stagnant; money circulation is weak; poverty has increased. Over the past year—