JVP slams VoA

• Says it is merely unrestricted spending without P’mentary oversight 
• Argues Govt. could have presented full Budget 
• Questions Rs. 2.4 b allocation for President  

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday criticised the Government for failing to move a Budget instead of a Vote on Account in Parliament to cover the State sector expenses of the first four months of 2020. 

Blaming the Government for setting a bad example by moving a Vote on Account, which lacks the traditional Budget program spanned over two months, giving the Members the opportunity to debate over expenditure heads, JVP lawmaker Bimal Rathnayake said: “If necessary, the Government had time to prepare a Budget. Moving Vote on Accounts will continue in the next year as well. Following the Presidential Election and the General Election, Parliament shall again sit around May 2020. A newly appointed Government will have to depend on similar methods to allocate government expenses. There is no supervision on this action, which has brushed aside Parliament’s monetary powers. The only thing that comes out of this Vote on Account is unrestrained allocations.”

MP Rathnayake, highlighting Rs. 2,405 million allocations made for the President through the Vote on Account said: “With the respective allocation Rs. 20 million is set aside per day for the President. Two luxury vehicles valued at Rs. 101 million were granted for the President’s security purposes. Another house was also given to him for personal use. Doesn’t he own a house? This is a country where 9.5 million people receive a daily income lower than Rs. 360. President should not be maintained using public money.”

“There are documents received from Sri Lanka Customs proving that a Rs. 61 million tax exemption was given for a vehicle imported for the Opposition Leader. All of these acts increase their personal luxuries. Sri Lanka is a poor country and people are unable to afford such luxuries for the politicians,” he added.