The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

¶ 02 You say, go to the villages—I agree; go often and hear the people’s answers.

¶ 03 On relief: before the last local polls, you promised Rs. 20,000 New Year goods packs. After the election, nothing was delivered, though Budget lines existed. Similarly, after the “8660” cyclone, the President said here that even if only a roof sheet was lost, Rs. 100,000 would be given; Rs. 500,000 land grants; Rs. 5,000,000 for fully damaged houses. A small number of ceremonial cheques were handed out and then returned due to lack of funds. Whom are you deceiving?

¶ 04 The President announced new relief yesterday—good—but will it reach people in practice? In our time when we reduced VAT and para-tariffs, you criticized us. Reducing VAT and cascading taxes benefits ordinary people. Today, your approach is tax upon tax. Even CESS is being removed; once CESS goes, SMEs will be finished. CESS protected small producers; removing it aids only large, connected conglomerates. Your tax policy benefits billionaires; it gives nothing to the small fisher and farmer. Inflation and cost of living are up; some items have increased by 300 percent. If paddy farmers’ income had risen by 100 percent, they might cope—but it has not.

¶ 05 You also contradict yourselves: at one moment you say do not import rice; now you import. The reality in villages is hardship. Please recognize it and correct course.