(-‘Victory is certain – the village is ours’ Monaragala District rally – Buttala Town – 2025.03.29-)
– President says addressing the public rally in Buttala
President Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that victory in reclaiming the nation would be brought to villages through local government bodies. He emphasized the need for a robust local governance mechanism that can allocate funds without fear or hesitation.
The President highlighted that local government bodies should be established before June 2nd and their proposals must be submitted to the central government by July-August. Accordingly, he assured that the necessary funds for villages would be allocated by November.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake made these remarks while addressing a public rally in Buttala on May 31 as part of the “Jaya Niyathai – Gama Apitai” (Victory is Certain, the Village is Ours) public rally series.
President Disanayake further stated;
“The National People’s Power (NPP) has successfully won both the Presidential and General Elections. There is no doubt that all 10 local government bodies will be secured in the upcoming Provincial Council Elections on May 6. The people of Sri Lanka now have no alternative political force to turn to because the NPP stands as the only movement capable of securing the country’s future.
Previous governments held on to power through misinformation, intimidation, and violence. They deceived the people with false narratives and relied on criminal gangs to maintain their authority. The result was economic ruin and destruction. The damage done to this country is immeasurable.
Investigations are underway into corruption and the illicit acquisition of houses, petrol stations and bar licences by former political leaders. More revelations will soon expose cases where individuals exploited national crises for personal financial gain. The people of Thanamalwila stood strong against criminal influence and played a crucial role in ensuring the NPP’s victory. This administration was formed through the collective efforts of such determined communities.
No force can destabilize or topple this government. The commitment to rebuilding the nation remains unwavering. Despite being in power for a short period, significant progress has already been made for the country and its citizens. Economic stabilization has been achieved within the past six months and a long-term plan is in place to maintain sustainable interest rates. Due to these improvements, 76 previously halted foreign-funded projects have been revived.
Restoring confidence in Sri Lanka’s banking sector is critical. As a result of economic stabilization, investors are once again showing interest. In Colombo alone, 15 prime land plots have been identified for major investment projects, reflecting renewed investor trust in government policies. A corruption-free investment environment has been ensured, allowing businesses to operate without the burden of bribery or commissions. Unlike previous administrations that purchased electricity at inflated prices, power procurement will be done at competitive rates, ensuring affordability for the people.
The latest budget marks the highest allocation in history for infrastructure development, including roads, tunnels, and buildings. However, despite having financial resources, there is a shortage of adequate public officials to efficiently execute these projects. While the upper echelons of the public sector remain strong, a decision has been made to recruit 30,000 new employees to enhance government efficiency. The era of securing government jobs through political influence has ended. A strong and effective public service is essential for rebuilding this nation.
Alongside the increase in maximum salaries for public servants, pension benefits for Members of Parliament have been eliminated. The previously provided pension insurance of LKR 1 million has been reduced to LKR 250,000. Vehicle permits have been discontinued, and fuel quotas for MPs have been cut by 50%. These measures set a precedent for responsible leadership, prioritizing national development over personal privileges. Unlike previous administrations where politicians benefited from both salaries and pensions, the current leadership is focused on reducing unnecessary expenditure.
Financial assistance for low-income families has been expanded. In June, an additional 400,000 families will receive unemployment benefits. Salaries for public sector employees have been increased, pension payments have been raised, and welfare allowances have been expanded. However, approximately 800,000 people in Sri Lanka currently receive no government assistance. To address this gap, an essential food package worth LKR 5,000 will be provided at a subsidized rate of LKR 2,500 within this year. Furthermore, recognizing the need for menstrual hygiene products for schoolgirls, the government has decided to distribute sanitary pads starting this April. A government exists to serve its people. Have previous administrations ever done this?
The fertilizer subsidy for farmers has been increased to LKR 25,000. Moving forward, starting this Yala season, farmers growing intercropping crops will receive a LKR 15,000 fertilizer subsidy. A fair market price for paddy has been ensured, guaranteeing that farmers receive a just return for their labor. In the Monaragala District, steps have been taken to cultivate every available paddy field this Yala season.
For Sri Lanka to progress, the younger generation must have access to new economic opportunities. Economic growth is impossible without foreign exchange earnings. The country generates dollars through tourism, exports, and remittances from Sri Lankan migrant workers. To secure the required amount of foreign currency, structured plans must be put in place to boost these revenue streams. Strengthening these sectors is the key to achieving long-term economic stability and growth.
To prevent outflow of dollars, we need to focus on producing all items that can be made locally. We encourage our people to utilize all available land for paddy cultivation. Plans have been put in place to support the development of coconut cultivation through fertilizer subsidy programme. A sum of Rs. 0.5 billion has been allocated for coconut farming in the northern regions. We allocate a substantial amount of money towards sugar imports. The Pelwatte Lanka Sugar Company alone has a debt of Rs. 39.4 billion, including VAT. Today, the Pelwatte Sugar Company is not operational, leading to an increase in production costs for sugar. Under these circumstances, a kilo of sugar can be imported for 190. When we consider the consumer needs, importing sugar is more profitable than domestic production. Can we continue this industry sustainably? Please allow us time to rebuild these collapsed institutions.
Our goal is to make the Pelwatte Sugar Company profitable again while addressing the concerns of workers in a just manner. Should we incur more debt for these companies? These businesses possess few assets and substantial debt. By enhancing their productivity, they have the potential to generate employment for youth in the area. Corruption, theft, and fraud have contributed to these issues.
The country’s tourism industry is generating a substantial amount of dollars. 2025 will be the year with the highest number of tourist arrivals. By March 30, more than 600,000 tourists have already arrived, and more than 03 million tourists are expected to visit by the end of this year. We hope to develop Pelwatte as a tourism hub. We are taking steps to improve the tourism infrastructure. The optimization of operations at Katunayake Airport is a top priority.
The year 2025 will also see the highest export revenue from goods and services. By 2030, we aim for an export income of US$ 36 billion. Additionally, 2025 will be the year that remittances from foreign workers reach their highest levels. Aren’t these good? We must ensure the country does not return to the economic conditions of 2021, 2022, or 2023.
The plans of the central government need to be communicated to the villages. In order to disseminate the country’s achievements across the villages, local councils are essential. Shouldn’t the local councils, which are aligned with each other, be entrusted to the government that represents the National People’s Power? We will present the next budget in November. In preparation for this, we will begin receiving proposals starting in June. During this time, the local political authorities in the villages should submit their proposals to the central government. The opposition has approached the Supreme Court to delay the election until the budget is completed, but the election date has been rescheduled to May 6. We cannot hold elections like this. Local councils should be established before June 2. They must submit their proposals to the central government by July-August. The required funds will be allocated by November.
When I visited the Northern Province, during a discussion with the District Development Committees, a proposal was made requesting funds for the construction of dilapidated roads in the Northern Province. We allocated Rs. 05 billion from this year’s budget for the construction of these roads. The challenge they now face is that by December, they need to spend this Rs. 05 billion to build the roads. For this, support from the local councils and municipal councils is required. When I visited Anuradhapura, it was pointed out that funds are needed for the renovation of the irrigation systems, such as the Rajanganaya, Nachchaduwa, and Huruluwewa reservoirs. We allocated Rs. 03 billion from the budget for the restoration of these systems. However, after further discussions, they reported that Rs. 03 billion was too much and only Rs. 02 billion would be sufficient. I called all the District Secretaries and informed them about the amount of money allocated for each district. I also notified them that all activities in the districts must be completed before the end of December. Furthermore, I informed the Secretaries of the Ministries that all work should be completed by December 31.
Now, we have the funds, and it’s time to complete the work. To do this, we need a strong local mechanism. Previously, a road that cost Rs. 01 million was done with Rs. 02 million. Now, if we allocate Rs. 01 million, we will get results. No need to allocate double. The increase in funds this time will enable us to carry out the work more efficiently. We can now allocate funds without fear, but we need a reliable local system to manage it. If someone else takes control of the local council’s authority and submits proposals, we will have to review them one by one. In that case, we will not be able to allocate the funds. We need to form a trustworthy team to manage and allocate the funds. We lack confidence in other teams that might behave similarly to past administrations.
After 76 years, a government has been formed that does not misuse public funds. In the past, political leaders would always take a portion of the funds, even when giving jobs or constructing roads, some money would go to the Minister’s house. We are receiving information that government officials are also involved in corruption and fraud. If that happens, the hard-earned job will be lost in a very short period. Isn’t that how we should build our country? Several officials from the Police Department and the Customs Department have already been sent home due to corruption. Political leaders cannot advocate against theft while participating in it themselves. We have structured this system correctly, and we will never allow the corrupt to form a government again. Corruption within the central government has been eradicated. Previously, even local councils were heavily corrupted; we need to clean up and restore them as well.
There are still questions about why we do not prosecute corrupt individuals. The power to punish corrupt officials does not lie with the government. Investigations and prosecutions must be carried out by the judiciary. We have granted full independence to the relevant institutions for this purpose. Multiple cases against corrupt individuals have been filed; future legal actions will also be initiated against the Sevanagala and Kataragama properties owned by former rulers. The investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks and Krrish deal are also on-going. Three former Ministers are currently in remand custody, one is concealing himself. Let’s see how long he can hide. The former Inspector General of Police has also been remanded. The country has now been established as a place where the law operates impartially, even against those who have abused power and wealth.
