Sajith slams Budget as ‘media circus’ aimed at deceiving people

Opposition Leader  Sajith Premadasa

• Says no clear proposals to strengthen livelihoods
• Claims most proposals repetition from last year’s Budget 

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday slammed the Government’s Budget as a “media circus” and an attempt at deceiving the people.

Speaking to journalists in Parliament’s Lobby after President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Budget Speech, Premadasa also alleged that the reason the Government was delaying paying the increased Cost of Living Allowance, which had been raised from Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 17, 500, till April was because it would be more politically expedient.

President Wickremesinghe in his speech said while the enhanced payments are effective from January 2024, the payments will begin from April. Sajith also said both presidential and parliamentary polls would be held next year.

Premadasa questioned if the Government has any effective proposals in the Budget to strengthen the livelihoods of working people. “Many of the proposals presented were the same as those announced in last year’s Budget but were not implemented by the Government,” he said.

He added that the President repeatedly stated in his Budget Speech that the country was in an “economic hell” when he took it over. “However, he failed to mention that the ‘hell’ is reserved for ordinary people. The rulers who were responsible for turning the country into a hell are living in heaven,” Sajith said.

“Overall, this Budget is simply a media circus that is meant to deceive the people. However, the majority of people in this country will not be deceived,” he added.