The Hon. T.B. Sarath - Deputy Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, in this debate on the government motion moved by Hon. Dharmapriya Wijesinghe regarding the current political and economic situation, many in the Opposition speak as if forgetting their own record. We inherited an economy in severe collapse, rife with corruption and malpractice, condemned globally by the World Bank and IMF.

¶ 02 When we took office, imports of nearly 900 items, including vehicles, were halted. Since 2015, public recruitment was frozen; salary increases halted; welfare cutbacks imposed—on farmers and low-income families alike. Despite persistent demands, there were no pay rises, leading to understaffing, reduced efficiency, increased workloads, and youth unemployment.

¶ 03 In our first Budget, unlike past practice of adding only allowances, we increased the basic salary directly. By next January, the lowest-grade public servant will see over Rs. 40,000 of increases. We also restored welfare: Rs. 10,000 to low-income families with a disabled child; Rs. 5,000 for those with a child with special needs; raised the fertilizer subsidy by Rs. 10,000; doubled Mahapola from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000; increased kidney patient assistance; provided Rs. 6,000 per student for stationery in schools with under 300 students; two uniform sets this year; annual menstrual hygiene support for girls; increased housing grants for low-income families from Rs. 500,000 to Rs. 1,000,000; for resettlement in North and East from Rs. 900,000 to Rs. 2,000,000. We have given extensive relief in our first year.

¶ 04 The Opposition’s anxiety is not about relief given—but that they cannot face the villages. Tell us where you have held public meetings over the last 18 months. Those who once stamped their names on banana bunches and matchboxes now complain about our reliefs.

¶ 05 After the May Budget came the “Ditcha” cyclone in November. Despite inheriting a collapsed economy, we did not flee. For fully damaged houses we give Rs. 5,000,000 for reconstruction; Rs. 50,000 to reoccupy; Rs. 25,000 for initial cleaning; and Rs. 500,000 for partial damages. We compensated small industries up to Rs. 200,000, and supported fishers. We paid land and house compensation. We paid beyond damage estimates to uplift people.

¶ 06 Now, amid a new global shock, we continue to shield people. Although fertilizer market prices now exceed Rs. 4,500 per sack, we still supply at Rs. 10,200 with no increase, and we will raise the subsidy by another Rs. 5,000. Aswesuma grants are raised by Rs. 7,500. Fishers will receive Rs. 150,000 fuel assistance; over Rs. 6,000 crore allocated.

¶ 07 Hon. Deputy Speaker, my final point: Hon. Ravi Karunanayake said this government is like the UNP. Not so. UNP tax reliefs favored big businesses—e.g., Daya Apparel, and arrack companies. Our reliefs go to suffering people. That is the difference. They nourished capital; we support common people. The Opposition shouts here but does not go to the village; we conduct grassroots meetings and explain. The government will continue to serve and provide relief as needed. I conclude. Thank you.