Basil uses Budget speech to impart political lessons

• Lists legacy and achievements of Rajapaksa family to drive home point of being resilient to challenges
• Opposition MPs wary over Basil’s political broadcast via Budget

Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday used the opportunity of presenting the Budget 2022 to impart political lessons tracing history from the early 1930s, listing key achievements of the Rajapaksa family. 

Opposition MPs were bemused with Basil’s opening in his Budget speech, which was televised live whilst analysts opined that the presentation was a milestone for the Finance Minister as it was his maiden endeavour. 

To his credit, Basil made a case as to why the Rajapaksa legacy and traits needed to be stressed in a Budget speech. 

“We are passing through perhaps the most painful period of human civilisation. I doubt if there is anybody who is unable to comprehend this reality. Nevertheless, we must make every effort to conquer these challenging times,” said Basil and recalled he first came to learn the concept of ‘Challenging the Challenges’ for the betterment of the public in his ancestral home in Medamulana.

Following is what Basil said in terms of politics:

“The Rajapaksas have a history of never being daunted by challenges. D.M. Rajapaksa, who is known as the ‘the Lion of Ruhuna,’ who represented the second State Council in 1936, is known by the entire country. He is my father’s elder brother (loku thaththa).

“My father’s election to the State Council in 1945 was a key political turning point for the Ruhunu Giruwaya. To date, the land and the lives of the people of Ruhuna bear evidence of D.A. Rajapaksa’s futuristic and visionary patriotism.

“Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is today in this House, is at the centre of the Rajapaksa political legacy. The decade from 2005-2015 was the most critical 10-year period of independent Sri Lanka.

“There are three main responsibilities that any elected government must fulfil in any country in the world. They are national security, development, and social welfare. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is the only leader who fulfilled all three of these responsibilities during the same era. Such leaders are not frequently found in the world’s political arena.

“The 2015-2019 period marks the next chapter of our political journey. The continuous harassment we faced during this period has strengthened us. Nevertheless, these painful memories are not forgotten, either by us or by those who fought side by side with us. It is common to take revenge on one’s enemies after victory. However, we did not let anyone take revenge.

“Unshaken and undaunted by the hateful and violent political environment during the time of the ‘Government of Good Governance,’ we dared to create Asia’s largest and the most successful political movement that is Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. Just 15 months after the formation of this new party, we had to face our first election. That was the Local Government election held on 10 February 2018.

“We were able to gain a landslide victory in this election, having defeated strong political camps. Then it was the time of the Presidential Election. By then, we had three incomparable political factors which were unavailable to any other political parties in the country. The first was the unmatched political leadership of Mahinda Rajapaksa. The second was a well-organised Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. The third was that the victorious candidate who was the overwhelming choice of the people was in our political camp. That was Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is now the President of the country.

“Amidst a myriad of internal and external challenges, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa marked a landslide victory in the 2019 Presidential Election, with over 6.9 million votes. That was a historic landmark victory with a majority of 13 lakhs of votes.

“Subsequently, after nine months, in testament to the leadership of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, we were able to win the 2020 Parliamentary Election with a historically large majority. The overwhelming response of our people has managed to shake our political opponents.

“When it comes to leaders, it is said that at times, the leader should be ahead of his followers, and at other times, he should be on par with the followers, whilst at certain other times, he should be behind the followers. Wherever the leader is, he should work with commitment, courage and honesty with the common objective of achieving the goals. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has followed this tenet to his utmost ability ever since he was elected as the President.”