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| Thursday, 20 November 2003 |
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Politics | |
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| Budget a damp squib - Opposition MPs Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapakse describing the budget as a damp squib stated that hopes engendered in the public had been shattered. The public were expecting much more, he added. "The Government has failed to meet the people's aspirations. Even the salary increase to the public servants are not sufficient to meet the increasing cost of living," Rajapakse told the media at the Parliamentary complex. He said the people were expecting a 50 per cent salary increase but the budget had failed to deliver this and even the subsidies extended to agriculture were not sufficient. Meanwhile JVP Parliament Group Leader Wimal Weerawansa said the UNF Government had shattered all expectations of the people through the budget proposals after giving them high hopes about a better life. He said the UNF Government instrumental in increasing fertiliser prices upto Rs.850 was now trying to cheat the farmers by making proposals to reduce it only by Rs.150. The Government is pretending that they are offering a better deal for the people but in reality the people were receiving nothing through this budget, he said. Meanwhile, PA Parliamentarian Ranjith Siyambalapitiya yesterday said the UNF Government's budget had failed to give any relief to the public. Except the Rs.1250 pay hike given to the public servants, the budget has not given anything to the public. Therefore the Government's budget has completely deceived the public by dashing their hopes and aspirations. He said: "We must remind the public that amidst various difficulties, the PA Government increased the salaries of public servants by Rs.2200 by 2000. He said the Government which clamoured for the removal of VAT has only reduced 10 and 20 per cent VAT to 15 per cent. This has again resulted in an increase in the prices of essential commodities by another 5 per cent. Siyambalapitiya said the Rs.300 fertiliser subsidy given for 50Kg bag of Urea fertilizer has been increased only to Rs.450. This is only a Rs.150 increase. At present, a 50Kg bag of Urea fertiliser is sold at Rs.850. This means a bag of Urea fertiliser has been reduced to Rs.700. Therefore the budget has not given any relief to the farmers who anticipated some relief from budget. He said the Government has only increased the salaries of 800,000 public servants by Rs.1200. However, over six million employees in the private sector will not benefit from the budget. He said the Tissa Devendra Commission has recommended to increase the minimum basic wage of Government employees up to Rs.6000. The PA requests the Government to fulfil this requirement. Siyambalapitiya said: "There are 30,000 unemployed graduates. If there are so many vacancies in the state sector, the Government through the circular 16 (1) and (2) has prevented filling these vacancies. Therefore the PA urges the Government to immediately fill these vacancies in Government institutions. However this budget has not mentioned anything about new employment generation. Meanwhile seven million of the country's people get a monthly income below Rs.1000. Therefore the Government should take steps to uplift the living conditions of these low income families and grant Samurdhi benefits to such families. But the budget has not focused any attention in this regard, he said. |
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