Budget targeted at elections: UPFA

• Warns that handouts alone will not win votes as public reacts to political issues 

United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday was unable to find any positives in Budget 2019, insisting it was nothing but a plan to win votes at the elections rather than focusing on proposals for development.

Joining the Budget debate in Parliament, de Silva went on to criticise the Government and its past track record, drawing parallels with Budget 2019. “Giving relief targeting elections alone will not help you to win. People use their votes to voice their concerns on national political issues that crop up during an election period,” he stressed.

“However, I am happy about the relief that was given to the people from this Budget. You were aiming at the elections, and it is acceptable. Every Government follows various tactics to bag more votes when an election approaches,” he added.

MP de Silva, reminding the Government that voters cannot be fooled easily, held that reliefs alone will not work to win hearts. “But remember that those relief measures alone would not be sufficient. It was Mahinda Rajapaksa administration which offered handouts overwhelmingly to the people, including bicycles. The public sector workers were given many privileges and many development projects were carried out at the village level. Yet, he was defeated. The people use elections as a platform to react to contemporary national issues,” he said.However, the Budget 2019 moved on 5 March in Parliament addresses almost all sectors and the Government is planning to expedite the process to finish within the next six months. Allocation for Gamperaliya, a landmark project of the Unity Government, has been increased from Rs. 200 million to Rs. 300 million per electorate. Budget 2019 has proposed to allocate a total of Rs. 48,000 million to be used for rural development. (AH)