The Hon. (Dr.) Najith Indika

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity.

¶ 02 In debating the government’s motion to adjourn, we focus on the Middle East crisis and its impact on Sri Lanka—economically and socially, notably in energy. Yesterday, a month since the conflict escalated on 28 February with the strike on Iran, the President presented a New Year relief package to ease people’s burden—about Rs. 10,000 crore (Rs. 100 billion).

¶ 03 This is a global crisis. There are signs today of a two-week truce due to Pakistan’s mediation. We hope for a swift, good end, but we are prepared for the worst while expecting the best.

¶ 04 We could announce Rs. 100 billion relief and allocate Rs. 60 billion more for three months of fuel support because in the past 18 months we strengthened revenue, reserves, and expenditure management. This is not money-printing like handing out Rs. 5,000 notes. This is the dividend of discipline—bolstering both rupee and dollar buffers. After the “8963” disaster in November—the largest asset loss in our history at US$4.1 billion per World Bank estimates—we still supported people at record levels, then two months later faced the external shock of higher fuel prices and supply disruptions, and still managed.

¶ 05 We recorded historic metrics: deficit down to 2.4 percent (lowest since 1956); current account surplus of US$1.8 billion (among the highest historically); revenue up 17.5 percent (highest since 1996); inflation and interest rates stabilized. This is complex crisis management, not submarine-spotting or rumor-hunting. It takes planning and work.

¶ 06 Some, like Hon. Sujeewa Senasinghe, spoke with much heat. In 2015, growth was 5 percent; in four years, it went negative. Had they governed now, we would be in civil turmoil, not discussing oil supply. They showed their capacity then.

¶ 07 On the Corruption Perceptions Index: he said we are at 107. In 2025, it was 107; in 2024, it was 121. Within a year we improved 14 places. Under the so‑called good governance of 2015, within three months of the January election, the Central Bank bond scam on 27 February drove CPI ranks from 95 to 115 within three years, and contributed to 2022’s bankruptcy. They even wrote books trying to deny or downplay it; those books are now conveniently unavailable—even in the Parliamentary Library.

¶ 08 On disaster management: in 2014, Meeriyabedda landslide—after four years only 75 houses were built under that government; we are now completing the remaining 135. Today we handle over 15,000 fully damaged houses, providing substantial support swiftly; don’t trivialize it as handing out bananas.

¶ 09 On “tasting and checking” fertilizer or coal: decisions are made based on lab-quality tests—NPQS for fertilizer, NMRA for medicines—not by “tasting.” Let us avoid such frivolities and be constructive.

¶ 10 Thank you.