“Even if they call me ‘Hitler’, my actions will continue” says President Anura Kumara

10-Nov-2025

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The national budget for 2026, containing a wide range of proposals to encourage investors and expand the production economy with economic development as its core objective, was presented to Parliament by President and Minister of Finance Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The budget speech lasted four hours and thirty minutes. 

Under the UNP administration, Ronnie de Mel set the record by delivering a six-hour-long budget speech. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, with a four-hour-and-thirty-minute address, now holds the second-longest speech, followed by former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, who delivered a three-hour-forty-minute presentation.

Parliament convened at 1.30 p.m. on November 7, under the chairmanship of Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne. 

The Speaker invited President and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake to present the budget for the upcoming year.

As the President entered the Chamber from outside, government MPs welcomed him by thumping their desks, while the opposition remained silent. The President took his seat and commenced the budget speech at 1.35 p.m.

Whenever the President outlined development projects and relief measures for the public, government MPs expressed their approval by thumping their desks. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and other opposition MPs and party leaders initially listened attentively.

However, about an hour into the speech, several opposition MPs frequently left and re-entered the Chamber, and a few were seen returning only towards the end of the session.

Contrary to previous practice, the public was not permitted into the visitors’ gallery for this year’s budget presentation. Nevertheless, foreign ambassadors, diplomats, and many senior officials from state institutions and ministries were present, listening attentively.

During his speech, the President at times compared development plans with those of previous administrations, and directed a few humorous remarks at opposition MPs. Sajith Premadasa, Gayanta Karunathilake, Namal Rajapaksa, Ravi Karunanayake and others were seen smiling at the President, who also smiled back at them.

Commenting in particular on criticism that the collection of personal data for the digital ID card amounted to “acting like Hitler,” the President said that opposition parties had even stated that, just as the US and Russia united against Hitler, they too needed to unite against him. Looking toward the opposition benches, he asked, “Who among you is America, and who is Russia?” causing a stir among them.

When he announced an allocation of 10 million rupees for each MP, some members of the opposition made teasing remarks. The President acknowledged that the funds had not been utilised properly in certain districts last year and assured that such shortcomings would not recur this time, prompting more smiles from the opposition benches.

When the President remarked that the minister who brought the boundary delimitation bill for provincial council elections had himself voted against it, opposition MPs shouted that the President too had voted against the bill. Laughing, he responded that such a thing had not occurred and asked them to refer to Hansard. This friendly banter continued at several points during the speech.

Concluding his address at 5.50 p.m., the President urged all MPs to support the budget, prepared with the aim of rebuilding the national economy, and expressed gratitude to the officials who assisted in its preparation. The Speaker then adjourned Parliament until 9.30 a.m. the following day.