“The budget has no programme to develop national economy!”

(November 09, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) There are no short term or long term solutions for the issues of the masses, even though it is President Mahinda Rajapakse’s fourth budget, said the leader of the group of Parliamentarians of the JVP Anura Kumara Dissanayake. He said this at a media meeting held at the Public Library Auditorium today. Speaking further, Dissanayake said that when the budget is carefully analyzed, it can be seen that the whole budget has been haphazardly prepared to make a futile effort to evade the recession that is threatening the whole capitalist world.

Dissanayake said the JVP had warned of the peril of depending on open economy but the government, until recently, thought Sri Lanka would not be affected. Now a budget has been prepared to earn foreign exchange by imposing heavy taxes on imported goods, which will result in price increases of all goods including consumer items said Dissanayake. Goods imported have been taxed heavily, stating it is necessary to develop the local economy. However, no long term or short term plans have been presented. For example imported paper is taxed but the Ambilipitiya paper mill has been closed down. There is no programme to develop its production.

It's the same with sugar. When machinery at Kanthale sugar factor is sold for scrap and land is sold to multi-national companies, how could the sugar industry be developed? It is the same with salt, garments and milk powder. What happens is that prices of consumer goods go up. Dissanayake said that state employees have been completely deceived by the budget. The private sector has not got any salary increase.

Even the advantage of the reduction of fuel prices in the world market has not been given to masses. When petrol could be reduced by Rs.72 and diesel by Rs.50 the budget only reduced it Rs.15 and Rs.30 for petrol and diesel. Even this reduction is done with a lot of flourish. President Mahinda Rajapakse said that transport fares could be reduced by 25%.

We ask Minister Dulles Alahapperuma to reduce train and bus fares by 25%. If this cannot be done either Dulles or the President is a liar. Hence, this budget doesn't have any long term or short term solutions for peoples' issues.

Also the government, without implementing the 17th amendment but attempting to censor the media, is plodding a wild path said the leader of the Parliamentary group of the JVP. This government is full of corruption and fraud. He said the JVP would vote against the budget. Information Secretary Vijithe Herath and Member of Parliament Lal Kantha also participated at the media meeting. - Sri Lanka Guardian