The Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa - Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment

¶ 01 [10.55 a.m.]

¶ 02 Mr. Speaker, this timely Motion addresses a historic moment creating pressure nationwide. Due to the current war climate, there is a global energy crisis. As a country importing oil, gas and coal, we inevitably face impacts—diesel, petrol and gas prices rose; electricity tariffs were affected as much generation depends on coal and fuel; transport costs rose; goods and services followed. In such times, a Government must grant relief—as the President set out yesterday in this House.

¶ 03 The people empowered us to end 76 years of governance characterized by theft, corruption, waste, nepotism and family rule, and to correct a system no longer suited to the nation. During the last economic collapse, why did they raise fuel and gas prices and cut power 14 hours a day? Not due to global oil prices or a world war, but due to their mismanagement. They lacked dollars despite available oil. Today, we have dollars; the issue is supply disruptions. Therefore, we are not responsible for the current global-crisis-driven adjustments.

¶ 04 The Central Bank, IMF and World Bank acknowledge Sri Lanka’s rapid recovery. In one year and three months, we have saved Rs. 1.2 trillion in the Treasury. From that, Rs. 0.5 trillion was allocated to unprecedented relief for victims of Cyclone “Ditva,” without money printing, new debt, or selling state assets. Many former ministers are now in jail; numerous investigations are ongoing. We are steering a corruption-free, frugal administration.

¶ 05 We increased public service salaries by allocating Rs. 1.1 trillion in each of the first two Budgets, and obtained Cabinet approval to recruit 73,000 to fill vacancies this year—including 23,000 teachers—rebuilding a debilitated public service. Meanwhile, we commenced refurbishing the Trincomalee oil tanks and began a new pipeline and storage complex from Muthurajawela to Katunayake to strengthen future energy security.

¶ 06 On Aswesuma, we acknowledge targeting gaps and are working to correct them—ensuring removal of ineligible beneficiaries and inclusion of the deserving this year. We are managing the present crisis well and will do even better.

¶ 07 Thank you.