The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation

¶ 01 Mr. Presiding Member, under the Welfare Benefits Act we discuss today, let me note that although benefits to the “At-risk” category identified through the Department of Census and Statistics’ poverty line-based process were scheduled to end on 31 December 2025, that period has now been extended to June 2026.

¶ 02 You will recall, when the NPP Government assumed office, these benefits were to end on 31 December 2024. We first extended to mid-2025, then in March to 31 December 2025, and now further to June 2026. Alongside this decision, the Rs. 10,000 allowance for the poor category and Rs. 17,500 for the extremely poor category will be continued up to June 2027.

¶ 03 Eligibility generally rests on key indicators: education, health status, economic level, employment, housing, and household demographics. As an NPP Government, while we drive broad-based economic empowerment, we also target relief to those squeezed by economic stress and inequality. Extending Aswesuma benefits is a result of that targeting. With this extension, 1,920,000 families receive benefits, and with the continuation of elderly, chronic kidney disease, and disability assistance, a further 1,270,000 persons are covered. We accept that relief cannot be permanent; beneficiaries must be socioeconomically empowered. This year we are rolling out the Praja Shakthi community empowerment programme and other projects across ministries to build livelihoods.

¶ 04 A further point: education is central in multidimensional poverty. It empowers people to progress. Hence the current debate on curricular reforms. Since 2012, again in 2018, and in our 2024 mandate, we pushed for curricular modernization. The present proposal brings together prior discussions and our submissions.

¶ 05 Constructive debate improves policy quality in a democracy. Yet much current commentary on the reforms is not constructive, often based on misread snippets or third-hand claims. Even here, the Leader of the Opposition misinterpreted aspects such as the Dharmachakra illustration. Some, lacking engagement opportunities, criticize from the sidelines; others present thoughtful critique, which we welcome.

¶ 06 The noise around “resign the Prime Minister” fizzled within 24 hours; the touted no-confidence motion became a whisper. The Opposition appears stuck: bring the NCM or not? Don’t keep saying “tomorrow.” If you bring it, we are ready this week—22nd and 23rd—for debate. If you wish, none of our Members need speak. We saw recent retreats from street protests; now it’s only press conferences. Bring the debate so we can expose falsehoods around the education reform process and defeat misinformation. Either table the NCM promptly for debate in this House, or admit your misstep and seek the public’s pardon.

¶ 07 Finally, welfare like Aswesuma cannot run indefinitely; a responsible government must lift people beyond dependency. While past decades had many programmes, as a nation we failed to meet objectives, necessitating today’s extensions. Let us enhance current benefits for the innocent and, together, transform beneficiaries into empowered households. Thank you.