Sajith dismisses Budget 2024 as ’’a media circus’’

In the first reactions by the opposition to Budget 2024, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa dismissed the government's Budget as a "media circus" and an attempt to deceive the people. 

Speaking to journalists in Parliament's Lobby after President Ranil Wickremesinghe's Budget Speech, Mr Premadasa noted that the President repeatedly referred in his Budget Speech about how the country was a "hell" when he took it over. "However, he failed to mention that the 'hell' is reserved for ordinary people. The rulers who were responsible for turning the country into a hell are living in heaven," he quipped. 

He queried whether there were any effective proposals in the Budget to strengthen the livelihoods of working people. Moreover, he claimed that many of the proposals presented last year for Budget 2023 had not been implemented by the government. 

The opposition leader also raised issue over sections of the Budget Speech seemingly being leaked to the media before they were made available to MPs, and said it raises serious questions about insulting the supremacy of Parliament. 

Mr Premadasa alleged that the reason why the government was delaying paying the increased Cost of Living Allowance, which had been raised from Rs. 7500 to Rs. 17, 500, till April was because it would be more politically expedient. President Wickremesinghe had said in his Budget Speech that presidential and parliamentary elections will be held next year. 

"Overall, this Budget is simply a media circus that is meant to deceive the people. However, I say that the majority of people in this country will not be deceived," the opposition leader emphasised.