Budget 2019: Parliament debate on Second Reading begins

The first day of debate for the Second Reading on Budget 2019 commenced in Parliament today (March 6).

By Sandun Jayawardena

Six days have been allotted for the debate on the Second Reading, which will be held from today till March 12. The committee stage debate will run for 19 days from March 13 to April 5. 

Opening the debate on the Second Reading, United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Bandula Gunawardena strongly disputed claims made by Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera during his Budget Speech the previous day that the 52-day political crisis which saw Mahinda Rajapaksa briefly installed as PM, was to blame for the economic damage suffered by the country.

He also scoffed at claims made by Minister Samaraweera during the Budget Speech that the economy that the Yahapalana Government took over in 2015 was a “ticking time bomb.” In reality, the economy had been in the best shape ever, he claimed, adding that the new Government failed to make use of a historic drop in world oil prices. The Government need not have sold the Hambantota Port to China if it had properly used the funds saved from the drop in oil prices, he noted. He further pointed to the Central Bank bond scam as a major contributing factor to the country’s economic woes. 

United National Party (UNP) MP and Non-Cabinet Minister Dr Harsha De Silva, who opened the debate for the Government, fired back at Mr Gunawardena, stating that a country’s Government should be changed democratically; not by throwing chili powder or by knifing people.

He pointed to the downgrading of the country’s credit rating by all three international credit rating agencies during the “political conspiracy” had a major adverse impact on the country.

He charged that during the 52 days that the Rajapaksa Government was in power, it was unable to obtain even a single US dollar for the country as confidence in the country’s economy had been lost.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP S. Sritharan noted there were many allocations made by the Government for projects under the theme “Reconciliation through Economic Empowerment.” He queried though, as to how the Government can talk about reconciliation and economic development in the north when the military continued to forcibly occupy private lands, leaving thousands of people displaced.

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MP Sunil Handunnetti pointed out that the only relief the public will get through the budget in the coming months would be the Rs 2500 interim allowance for public sector employees. However, this too will only be granted from July 1, which would mean that public sector employees will have to wait till July 25 to have that allowance credited to them, he commented.

“In the meantime, the Government will continue to levy plenty of money from the public. Therefore, this is a budget that takes much from the people while holding back even the little relief that’s been given,” he quipped