MR warns public not to fall for polls ‘gundus’ in today’s budget
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, yesterday, warned the public not to be fooled by today’s budget. He said that there would be a number of election ‘gundus’ therein.
“The Finance Minister has already said that he wants to promote open market policies and liberalisation. This is the ideology of the government. They know they are unpopular and that an election is coming soon and, therefore, they will also provide some concessions. Don’t be fooled by it.”
The Ranil Wickremesinghe administration had ruined the economy and it was in no position to sustain subsidies after the next election, Rajapaksa said, adding that “Investment in health, education and agriculture has dropped sharply during the last four years and the economic growth has fallen below 4%.”
“This kind of downturn hadn’t happened even during the war. The economy is stagnant and given the circumstances the government can’t give subsidies to the people in the long run. They will either have to get more loans or tax the people. So don’t be fooled by the promises of these people.”
Minister Mangala Samaraweera told the media on Sunday that the 2019 budget would be called an ‘Enterprise Sri Lanka’ budget. “We are not going to give handouts. We are helping people to help themselves. We are giving them fishing rods instead of the fish.”
(Source: The Island – By Norman Palihawadana)
Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
- Bus collision in Watawala injures four amid adverse weather November 25, 2024
- Senior Professor Rathnayake appointed to restore order at University of Ruhuna November 24, 2024
- Sri Lankan fishing vessel seized with massive drug haul in Maldives November 24, 2024
- Audit reveals misuse of electric vehicle permits for migrant workers in Sri Lanka November 23, 2024
- IMF approves third review: Sri Lanka secures $333 million tranche under EFF November 23, 2024
Mr MR,
We all know how the country was ruled to the advantage of of one family for 10 years.
We all know why a war was fought to increase the bank balances of one one family.
We all know how you, as the illegal Finance Minister in Oct-Dec 2018, reduced fuel prices ad parrippu without any economic justification.
MR, you may be a popular leader amongst folks who frequent Buddhist Devales.
But the younger generation of country have access to vast amount of knowledge on day to day things and on how Politicians become rich.
We , the younger generation, will use that knowledge to the betterment of our country.
look who is talking the its the Hora king he is back with funny statements doesn’t he remember the days he was finance minister the Budgets he presented they were not gundu they were cyanide coated seeni bola ha time for you to retire and be a hermit with all the money that you stole from the poor beggars of this country