Opposition views on Budget 2013

By Ashwin Hemmathagama  Our Lobby Correspondent

Dr. Harsha de Silva (UNP)

Once the Government pays salaries and pensions they will run out of 95 per cent what is projected for the 2013 Budget. This is a Budget by the one per cent for the one per cent. So, 99 per cent of the population is not given anything from this Budget. People asked for a salary increase of Rs. 10,000 to meet the increasing cost of living. But instead an increase of Rs. 1,500 was given, which will also be paid in two tranches. However, the taxes are reduced for racing cars. I trust 99 per cent of the people in this country haven’t seen a racing car.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake (DNA)

This Budget has no difference from what has been given before, expect using a different wrapper. This is the eighth Budget the Rajapaksa regime has tabled, which is an extension of past seven years. Farmers and private and State sector employees had lot of hope about this Budget. The fertiliser subsidy has been increased to Rs. 500 using indirect methods. As for the State sector, an allowance of Rs. 750 will be given from January. Approximately it is the price of 12 loaves of bread. On top of this the Government plans to get a massive loan, which is almost the same when compared with the income. 

Ravi Karunanayake (UNP)

This is not a Budget but a dream of somebody. No benefit is accrued to anybody with macro or micro benefits. It is an attempt to keep a political bearing using camouflage. It has only created nightmares for the public. Super rich got the benefits from this.

Mangala Samaraweera (UNP)

I see this as a Budget that curtailed the benefits given to school children and extending what is given to the Rajapaksa family. The only benefit is the reduction of taxes to import racing cars.

Gayantha Karunathilake (UNP)

People expected more from this Budget as it was brought after three years since the war came to an end. The Budget has no difference, compared to a wood-apple consumed by an elephant.

Dayasiri Jayasekara (UNP)

The Budget allows the remitting of black money to Sri Lanka easily. The relief given to State servants is around Rs. 25 per day, which is only for a cup of tea. Only the Rajapaksa family and those who are around them are looked after in this Budget.

Eran Wickramaratne (UNP)

The Budget is a fairytale. Last year they said GDP would grow at eight per cent but it only came to six per cent. They expect 7.5 per cent for next year but how it will reach there is not explained. Lots of unpractical promises are there. The Government’s investment in infrastructure doesn’t bring the expected returns. Fundamentally the Government strategy is a fraudulent.

Sujeewa Senasinghe (UNP)

The President only wasted his time at Parliament with a Budget that has no benefit to the general public. Although he shows benefits for using natural fertilisers, the use is not practical when it comes to paddy fields. According to Prof. Indraratna, Rs. 100 billion, which is 10 per cent of GDP, is stolen from Sri Lanka annually. The Budget allows bringing back what is stolen and transforming black money. Now the President has also started to establish classes among schoolchildren.

P. Harrison (UNP)

The President has increased the paddy price by Rs. 5 per kg and from the other side has imposed a compulsory insurance levy of Rs. 150 per fertiliser bag. The motorcycle licensing fee has also increased by Rs. 150 to Rs. 450.

Wijedasa Rajapakshe (UNP)

There is no benefit for the majority although the Budget has been brought forward as an annual ritual.

Sajith Premadasa (UNP)

This is not a solid Budget. I will give you a few reasons. They have allocated Rs. 200 million to develop religious institutions. If you take Buddhist temples alone, the total comes to 11,000. So each temple will get Rs. 18,000 per annum. So, what development can you do with Rs. 18,000?

Secondly, they have allocated additional Rs. 1.5 billion to eradicate poverty. Even if you use this money for Samurdhi recipient families, each family will get Rs. 1,071 per annum. So, will this be adequate to eradicate poverty?

Thirdly, 100,000 farmer families experienced the devastation from the droughts. With the allocation being Rs. 1 billion, each family will get Rs. 10,000 per annum. Will this be adequate for them?

Lastly, my father started providing 4.3 million school children the uniforms. There was no classification whatsoever. But from this Budget the children in isolated schools will get the State support of uniforms and meals.

Rosy Senanayake (UNP)

The Budget is nothing but a dangerous plan brought forward to settle its debt and kill the public with inflation.

Harin Fernando (UNP)

This Budget is a circus with whistles and gymnastics. The Budget is for a small group of people who could bring back their black money to Sri Lanka.

Jayawikrama Perera (UNP)

Both the farmers and State employees are not given benefits from this Budget. Only car racing will be benefited. This is the first step toward a revolution similar to France.

Ranjan Ramanayake (UNP)

This is a Budget of Sakvithi, the fraudster. But the best in the Budget is for the President’s son, who drives super cars.

Kabir Hashim (UNP)

The Budget is nothing but a dream. But all these dreams will get converted into nightmares in a few months. Only a specific segment of society will be benefited from this Budget.