Mixed reactions to Budget
2008-11-06 19:23:04

President Mahinda Rajapaksa fourth Budget presented to Parliament this afternoon came in for criticism from some Opposition parties as being inadequate to provide any real relief to the public while it won the endorsement of Government as well as some Opposition MPs.

The President announced reductions in kerosene, diesel and petrol prices, provided concessions on VAT, relief on power and water bills as well as increase in allowances for public servants, pensioners and the military.

However both the UNP and the JVP MPs said that the Budget fell far short of the people’s expectations.

JVP parliamentary group leader Anura Dissanayake said that pubic servants in particular had anticipated a substantial pay raise but this had not happened while a ceiling of Rs250, 000 has been imposed in the distress loan granted to public servants.

UNP MP Ravi Karunanayaka too said the Budget falls short of expectations with no real benefits to the public and no relief to the private sector as well.

“It’s like the government has taken Rs1000 from the people and given them Rs100 in return,” he said.

The Budget was well received by MP Wimal Weerawansa’s faction in Parliament. Mr.Weerawansa said even if it did not provide 100 per recent relief to the people, it contained measures to strengthen the local economy and industry.

TMVP MP Vinyagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna too welcomed the budget saying it set aside substantial amount of funds to develop the east.

The TNA boycotted the presentation of the Budget in protest at the conditions of Tamil civilians in the north. .