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| Tuesday, 23 November 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| JVP acclaim for maiden UPFA budget The JVP has acclaimed the UPFA Government's maiden budget as the first people friendly budget formulated according to indigenous hopes and needs since 1977 without succumbing to the dictates of foreign monetary institutions. The JVP in a press release said this budget becomes all more significant not only because it has showered many reliefs to the common man but also because it has succeeded in reversing the indiscriminate new liberal economic march followed by the country for over 26 years and divert the country towards a new national economic strategy. The release states: "The 2005 budget can be described as an important crossroad in the Sri Lankan economy because it has been able to divert private entrepreneurship towards a new production path." The release issued on behalf of the JVP politburo said the Budget has taken a very important decision to provide tax exemption to investments in the agriculture sector. This will undoubtedly help to increase local agricultural production to cater to the world market. The budget has also provided many reliefs and concessions to Government servants unprecedented in the country's history. The immediate Rs. 2,500 salary increase granted despite economic constraints such as escalating fuel prices in the world market symbolised the UPFA Government's bond and concern for the working class. The UNP regime had started a program to retire 100,000 Government servants in 2004 and another 100,000 in 2005. If such a retirement scheme was followed, the UPFA Government would have been able to grant a much higher salary increase to public servants. But it should be emphasised that the Rs. 2,500 increase had been given while recruiting 41,000 unemployed graduates to the permanent government service from January and providing future employment to 30,000 G.C.E. Advanced Level qualified children which is a great achievement. The other significant feature of the Budget is the special emphasis and dedication shown to working mothers by enabling them to take up to one year's maternity leave after a child birth. The reduction of VAT on essential food items will help to bring down the rising cost of living. The release said the distribution of uniforms among Daham Pasala teachers and heavy taxes levied on bookies and casinos showed the government's genuine interest in creating a disciplined society rather than merely increasing its revenue. Funds have also been allocated for the 10,000 tank rehabilitation program, 1,000 industrial villages program while allocations for education, and North-East rehabilitation have been further increased. Therefore anyone who looks at the Budget in a dispassionate manner will accept it as a progressive and people-friendly budget designed for the welfare of the nation. The release said this year's budget has been so exceptional that the Opposition is hard put to find any drawbacks to criticise it. The only thing the Opposition has laid its hands on is the extension of the eight-hour working day by one hour. It should be emphasised that this has not been made compulsory. If public servants were against this proposal, the UPFA Government is ready to withdraw it, the release said. |
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