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No
repeat of UNF's errors: Amunugama
"No new conditions have been placed. The country would receive whatever has been pledged ", Dr. Amunugama said, adding that he would be hoping to meet the IMF representative in Sri Lanka to obtain the 81 million dollars promised to Sri Lanka but withdrawn last year. "With the peace process back on track we are certain that we would be getting positive responses from India, Japan and the US. Getting the peace process moving was a key stipulation imposed by donors", Dr. Amunugama told 'The 'Sunday Times' soon after courtesy calls were paid by the British and Australian High Commissioners last Tuesday. Explaining that he would have to take decisions in the light of the budget of the former government, until the Alliance presents its own budget in November, he said the Alliance budget would be one for the common man and ''would not be one which supports the 'alcohol mafia' ". Accusing the UNF for giving tax exemptions to the liquor industry and the casino industry, he said that he hopes to impose 'heavy taxes' on these quarters because he was not working to the agendas of these people. The new Finance Minister also alleges that millions of rupees worth of international calls had been provided to former ministers free of charge. With the failure of the Bribery and Corruption Commission, Dr. Amunugama says plans are afoot to formulate an anti-corruption unit on the lines of the unit in Singapore. "I hope to set up new structures", he said adding that he would stop playing 'father Christmas' to the Central Transport Board by providing Rs. one million every month for payment of salaries to employees. Asked about the promises that he had made of facilitating 55,000 jobs by the end of May, Dr. Amunugama said preparations have already been made for creating 35,000 jobs in the fields of teaching, and the police and that applications would be called for a total of 55,000 jobs by the end of May. The gazette notification for 35,000 job placements is to be published next week. With regard to agriculture he said that the country would have to bear the cost of Rs. one billion for the price reduction of urea by Rs. 250 and added that he hoped to put into place several other incentives for agriculture including creating a broader market for domestic produce by reducing the import of produce such as potatoes, onions and rice. |
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