Mixed reactions for 2022 Budget Amendments

COLOMBO (News 1st); MPs have expressed their reactions to the 2022 revised budget, which is scheduled to be debated at the Parliament from tomorrow (31) to Friday (02).

Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and MP Johnston Fernando both were seen walking out of the chamber with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, who mentioned that the problem with the budget itself lies within the fact of President mentioning that only 61,000 families have been affected by disaster in this country.

Bandula Gunawardena, the Minister of Transport and Mass Media insisted that the budget provides relief to the most affected sections of the population, and also contains the necessary policy measures to manage the public finances and the economy.

"This is not a sugarcoated budget document" the Minister said.

NPP MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya pointed out that most of the decisions taken in 2021 were reversed by the previous administration, and the current administration is reversing the very same decisions by backing President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The people who agreed to different decisions taken six months ago are in favor of this. This itself shows the instability of this Government, she said.

Meanwhile, Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that there should not be a question about reversing decisions if it is detrimental to the people, and that him and his party are in agreement to make necessary sacrifices for the betterment of the people.

"This is a budget which should be in agreement with everyone, as we should now attempt for an all-party Government to allow the nation out of this calamity" he said.

SJB MP S.M. Marikkar said that the budged presented by former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa last year was one which  highlighted the damage done to the country, and not a budget which brought much relief to the people.

"We have not seen a budget that would improve the standard of living of low-income earners, especially three-wheeler drivers, self-employed people, or provide three meals to people who cannot afford to eat one meal," the SJB MP emphasized.

SLFP MP Duminda Dissanayake insisted that no matter who comes to power, it is difficult to do something different, especially due to the economic crisis.

DLF Leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara said that Sri Lanka needs to stop printing money, as 
it only adds tax burden to the people. He added that only a targeted amoung will receive aid through this budget as well.

TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran expressed that funding which needs to be reduced, has not been reduced yet, as Defence spending remains the same and that it seems that increasing revenue through this tax cancellations and other concessions is the goal.