UNP tips MR to win best fiction writer for short story on Budget

Thursday, 24 November 2011 01:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Chamitha Kuruppu

The main Opposition UNP yesterday predicted President Mahinda Rajapaksa will win the best fiction writer award for 2012 for his short story of a Budget, which is a sugar-coated bitter pill for the people.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told the media in Colombo yesterday that the Rajapaksa regime’s seventh Budget had betrayed the nation and its people before the IMF. It may be beautifully worded and seem to have created a dreamland for the people, but the Budget has in actual fact robbed the people out of their meagre pockets, he said.

The UNP General Secretary noted that the depreciation of the rupee would have an adverse impact on the economy. The Budget makes no mention about how the Government is going to find added expenses of the State and pay back loans following the devaluation.

He also said a protest campaign against the Government would be held on 29 November commencing from the Hyde Park in Colombo. The unreasonable imprisonment of former Army Chief Sarath Fonseka, expropriation of businesses of local entrepreneurs and a Budget without any relief for the masses will be highlighted at the demonstration, he said.