Both Presidential and Parliamentary elections next year: President

President Ranil Wickremesinghe confirmed today in his Budget address in the House that both Presidential and Parliametary elections will be held next year as scheduled. 

“Some people denote this budget as an Election Budget. The reason is the Presidential Election and the General Election is scheduled in the next year. Such a Budget is designed to provide various concessions and salary increments aiming at an election victory. This is what happened during the past 75 years since the independence,” President Wickremesinghe said in his Budget speech. 
 
Stressing that this Election Budget is different to past one and it is a Budget that constructs the future of the country, President added that this budget has been prepared for the victory of the county. “A Budget that was prepared according to the Buddhist philosophy. Several proposals have been included in this budget, based on the concept of “Samajeewikathaa” concept to ensure victory for the country and the country’s future,

During the President also explained in detail how country came to the bankrupt situation due to mismanagement of the economy and bad policy decisions as well. 

“We resorted to borrowing or printing money to provide jobs, increase salaries, distribute free rice, offer relief, and maintain state-owned enterprises. We won elections by making promises about giving government jobs, safeguarding public resources, delivering relief packages, reducing commodity prices, and increasing salaries. We became indebted to the country as well as to the world to lead pompous and extravagant lives by not aligning revenue to our expenditure,” he noted.