By Ashwin Hemmathagama 

– Our Lobby Correspondent

Opposition Lawmaker Selvam Adaikkalanathan moved the third day of the ‘Appropriation Bill 2016 - 

Second Reading Adjourned Debate’ with a critical tone over the Government showing “little interest” to solve the issues of the Tamil speaking population. 

“The last Government failed to live up to the expectations of the Tamil people. So, the people elected the current Government with much hope. During the 100-day program some progress was seen with certain amount of interest taken to solve problems. But now that little interest is no longer visible with the leadership – especially to handover Tamil lands, now occupied by military,” charged ITAK MP Adaikkalanathan.

Delivering his maiden speech at Parliament, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama turned down the allegations of MP Adaikkalanathan in response stating, “This is a progressive and a forward looking budget, which will place the country on a path of sustained development and growth. The Government’s twin objective of promoting inclusive growth and employment generation on one hand and taking steps to stabilise the economy on the other has been addressed by Finance Minister. He has laid out a framework of robust foundation for achieving shared prosperity and protecting the poor and vulnerable. The FM’s task was complicated by a legacy of high and unsustainable debt, low growth and on unbalanced income model, which has run out of headroom because it was excessively dependent on expensive foreign commercial borrowings.” 

He went on, “Cronyism has stifled private enterprises ranging from farmers and fishermen to large corporate companies. This budget has focused on laying the foundation for an economy which draws on the enterprise and the dynamism of our people – an economy that fosters innovation and creativity. This is the only way we can develop an economy which thrives on a globalisation. Our progress has been held back by uncertainty and unpredictability. This was largely due to personal discretion rather than principle driving policy making. The widespread corruption and mismanagement have served to impose a burden on the people which continues to challenge us.” 

Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training Mahinda Samarasinghe joining the debate identified Budget 2016, a commendable move by Finance Minister prepared on the instructions of the Prime Minister. However, the Minister challenged the Government to show reasons for increasing taxes on certain items. 

“Why has the import duty on electric cars been increased in this budget? This is going against the general norms seen in other parts of the world to encourage the use of energy efficient vehicles. These are environmental friendly vehicles,” said the Minister, who took the British government as an example where GBP 5,000 rebate was made for every purchase of a B-class Mercedes Benz and the charging of electric cars were done free of charge in Norway.

Opposition lawmaker Bimal Rathnayake was not too critical about the Government’s budget but offered advice on diverse aspects. “Well before the Budget speech, the Prime Minister told the Parliament political parties have failed in developing the nation in the past. He was a person who was four times Prime Minister in this country. We are a poor country. 43% of the population earns less than US$2 per day. The North could have become poor due to war but the Uva Province is still poor even without having had a war. So, what have we been doing during the last 50 years? In general, the laws and tax regimes were in favour of the private sector,” he said. 

UNP MP Harshana Rajakaruna blamed the Rajapakse regime for the drawback, especially for losing foreign investments. He stated, “The war destroyed the country for 30 years and Rajapakse regime failed to bring the benefits of the war victory. Instead the country headed towards a crisis with nepotism coming to the limelight. It was an era where 60% - 70% of the total budget was at the discretion of a few family members. So, the foreign investors chose Vietnam against Sri Lanka.”

UNP MP Nalin Bandara joining the debate endorsed the charges against corrupt Rajapkse regime. “Who took the land in Kalpitya and Pasikuda, and Nilaweili? It was given to ‘mango’ friends of the Rajapakse regime. Where is transparency and effort taken to build investor confidence? Now you are talking about a fertiliser subsidy. Tell me what you have done to develop the livelihood of farmers? Let’s take cinnamon. We cater to over 80% of cinnamon needs of the world. But now countries without a single cinnamon tree on their soil have added value to our cinnamon and make money. But from this budget, money is allocated for cinnamon research centre,” he said. Thereafter, the debate on the Second Reading of Appropriation Bill 2016 was adjourned at 6.30p.m. until 9.30a.m. on 26 November.

Financial misappropriations at Foreign Employment Ministry

By Ashwin Hemmathagama 

– Our Lobby Correspondent

The latest findings on the misappropriated funds at the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) during the tenure of Minister Dilan Perera has reached over Rs. 248.9 million. According to Minister of Foreign Employment Thalatha Athukorala, the money was mostly spent on image building activities of the former Minister and the programs of the Dilan Perera Foundation. SLBFE is among the key state institutions established to look after the welfare and address issues of Sri Lankan migrant workers. The alleged use of SLBFE funds to sustain the Minister and his supporters is a serious violation of the fund guidelines and straying from the fund’s vision and mission. “The Auditor General has concluded his inquiry and the files have been passed to the FCID for action,” Minister Athukorala confirmed, tabling the details of the spending.