2026-02-18 / debate: Special Commodity Levy Act Order, Customs Ordinance Resolution, Motor Traffic Act Regulations 2026-02-18
Hon. Athula Welandagoda defended the Government's handling of several regulatory instruments, including SCL regulations, a Customs Ordinance resolution, and Motor Traffic orders, contrasting what he described as the Government's evidence-based approach with what he characterised as unfounded Opposition allegations. He cited paddy procurement figures from the last Yala season—43,861 metric tons across 16 districts at guaranteed prices ranging from Rs. 120/kg to Rs. 132/kg depending on variety—as evidence of effective agricultural policy. The speaker also referenced the AT-378 rice variety developed at the Ambalantota Rice Research Institute, yielding 12–14 metric tons per hectare, and cited broader macroeconomic improvements including a reduction in inflation from approximately 70 percent to 2 percent and GDP growth of around 5 percent as indicators of national stabilisation.
Hon. Presiding Member, throughout today the Government side has presented evidence-based arguments on three SCL regulations, one resolution under the Customs Ordinance and two Motor Traffic orders. The Opposition, by contrast, has relied on allegation sheets and falsehoods.
On paddy procurement: during the last Yala season, the Government purchased 43,861 metric tons across 16 districts and 137 centres, with guaranteed prices—Nadu at Rs. 120/kg, Samba at Rs. 125/kg and Keeri Samba at Rs. 132/kg. Previously, farmers were pushed out of cultivation by policy confusion and even substandard fertilizer imports. Today, the farmer can breathe again. Our tax policy protects both farmer and consumer.
Take Hambantota’s Ambalantota Rice Research Institute: its AT-378 variety yields 12–14 metric tons per hectare. These advances, alongside macro gains—bringing inflation down from 70 percent to about 2 percent and growth up to around 5 percent—show the country steadily stabilizing. Let the Opposition engage constructively instead of peddling instability. Thank you.