The debate on the second reading of the 2014 budget commenced in Parliament today.

Leader of the Opposition, Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed these views;

“Since the government does not have new revenue streams they are increasing indirect taxes to collect revenue. As a result of having to pay upto 80 percent as indirect taxes, all people have been burdened, rich or poor. The result of all of this is that the burden of the limitless debt obtained with no transparency whatsoever, the loss incurred as a result of ad-hoc expenditure and the loss incurred by the stalling of development in the country, has been placed on 99 percent of the people. We do not agree with this system which causes 99 percent of the people to bear the burdens of the one percent. Thereby the United National Party, will vote against this budget.”

Deputy Minister of Finance, Senior Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama shared these views;

“On the one hand when you look at it, it is evident that this is a budget that was prepared following discussions with all sections, and a budget that serves all the people. As we continue on this path we can see that year by year the situation has become better. If you look at the preliminary investments we made, these are yielding results now. I must inform you that this budget has won the praise of the people and as such, you who have been defeated twenty five times are now facing a twenty sixth defeat.”

UNP Parliamentarian, Ravi Karunanayake expressed these thoughts:

“You say that economic growth is at 8 percent. In your speech you say that this is the investment you are putting forward. What is the necessary amount of investment? You spoke of 30 percent.. Isn’t it a lie? There has to be 40 percent in investment to have economic growth of 8 percent. Your national savings are at 24 percent. The national level is 31 percent. Where are you going to add this 6.5 percent and 7 percent? This is why the seven percent economic growth rate of previous years has now reduced to six percent. If you look at this properly without the inflating it with the lies of the Central Bank, then it is possible that actual economic growth is between four and five percent.”

DNA Parliamentarian, Sunil Handunnetti shared these views;

“Through this budget, on one hand they show that incomes have increased, and on the other they have increased the cost of living. When you add the burden, the relief that has been given to alleviate the cost of living turns out to be false relief. As the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna we have our reasons for opposing this budget. The reason is that it is not the journey that you show in the budget that the country is engaged in.”

Minister of Resettlement, Gunaratne Weerakoon shared these following thoughts;

“Under the interim government four ministerial portfolios and four deputy ministerial portfolios were held by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. Couldn’t you have put forward a proper economic plan for the for us to follow when you were in the interim government? Apparently this wisdom dawns on you only when you are not in power.”

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