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| A 'unique' budget turning people's hopes to more despair! –reveals Govt.'s debt loads shamelessly ;does not unload people's burdens |
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 (Lanka-e-News, June 30, 2010, 9.55 AM) The acting Minister of Finance Dr. Sarath Amunugama presented the Govt.'s annual budget on 29th which was a very antithesis of a people acceptable traditional budget providing relief and hopes to the people. The working classes were denied their salary increases, people were divested of relief, even that little they enjoyed at the moment. In short, it was a damp squib only matching the Govt.'s favorite hobby horse imposing more and more hardships on the common man by subtle means and subterfuges while eloquently promising relief.
The total revenue has been estimated at Rs.817, 800 million. The Govt. is seeking to rake in a revenue of Rs. 729 billion by ruthlessly imposing taxes , tariffs and levies on the people. This amount is to be collected from the people within the next 6 months. In other words, the budget which ought to provide relief and buoy up the people is going to trample and torture them beyond anything they have been accustomed to in their lifetime. ‘Thanks’ to the Govt.’s colossal debt burdens for which people are not responsible but made answerable by the Govt. It is an indisputable fact , going by the comments and warnings made by independent non political top notch economists right along that the country was hurtling down an economic precipice due to the Govt. ‘s reckless fiscal policies and infinite borrowing affinities . Hence, it was their prophecy that the Govt. will sooner or later realize that it is the sole architect of country’s economic catastrophe and misfortunes. This budget is a deadly fallout of all the economic ills and evils the Govt. stoked during its period in office, only to carry on regardless in power riding roughshod all the time on the backs of the people .
Though the budget deficit for 2010 was stated by the Minister as Rs. 462,000 million, he did not explain how this deficit is going to be bridged!
The Govt.'s estimated expenditure inclusive of the loan re payments is Rs.1, 821 billion!
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The promises made by the President at the last Presidential and General elections that a monthly salary increase will be granted to workers, according to the Acting Finance Minister will only be considered at the next annual budget. However, he did not specify by what amount their salaries will be increased.
When the Opposition began screaming and making a loud hue and cry against the proposals , the Minister calmed them by requesting to be patient until he had finished his speech. Minister Mervyn Silva however in characteristic 'chandiya' (though he is a 'nondiya' now) style went up to the Opposition benches and tried to obstruct the opposition catcalls.
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Given hereunder are the funds allocated towards workers and welfare reliefs in this budget …
Rs. 3 million towards School children; free School books; uniforms; nutrition; transport facilities. Rs. 7363 million had been allocated for scholarship promotion .
Rs. 2500 million had been allocated towards nourishment and assistance of feeding mothers and infants’ nourishment .
Rs. 7500 million towards 25000 (approximately) refugees in welfare camps to provide food and dry rations
Rs. 9300 million has been allocated to provide relief to beneficiaries of Samurdhi program families.
A sum of Rs. 9300 million allocated towards relief for families of low income earners under the Samurdhi program.
Rs. 102, 500 million had been set apart towards social uplift- ment through the Govt. pensioners’ funds and the grants made to the disabled soldiers numbering about 6000.
Towards better Agriculture production, a sum of Rs. 2 million; and for manure, Goviyas, for loans and for a guaranteed price on paddy , a sum of Rs. 35 000 million had been allocated.
The Govt. in an attempt to demonstrate its concern for the Health service has allocated a sum of Rs. 13,000 million for providing free health service to about 50 million outdoor and indoor patients and for purchase of drugs.
Rs. 6650 million had been set aside for the facilities to be provided to commuters by the Railways and the Bus transport services.
Peace cannot be achieved without development. As the conflict is over development cannot be postponed any more yielding to cheap political gains, the Minister pointed out. It is essential that the people are got back what they lost owing to the LTTE devastation. All must rally round to fulfill the promise given by the President to make SL a model for Asia. The whole object of this budget is to uplift the living standards of the people via economic development, the Minister said in conclusion.
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