Fulfil the Promises Given to the People – MP Namal Rajapaksa

13-Nov-2025

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Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MP Namal Rajapaksa urged the government to fulfil at least 50 percent of the promises made to the people, stating that the 2026 Budget was prepared in a way that taxes the poor while providing relief to the wealthy.

Speaking during the third day of debate on the Second Reading of the 2026 Budget on November 11, he said that while government members praised President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for delivering a historic 4½-hour Budget speech, the actual content should be critically examined.

He pointed out that only half of the proposals in the 2025 Budget had been implemented. “In previous budgets, wealth was taken from the rich and distributed to the poor, but this budget appears to do the reverse,” he said.

“We will not oppose genuine economic recovery measures. The people, not us, rejected the policies of past governments. The President’s past parliamentary speeches should be compiled and published as a book,” he added.

He concluded by reiterating that the opposition would extend full cooperation to overcome the economic crisis and provide relief to the people, but urged the government to fulfil at least half of its pledges to the public in the coming year.