The Budget - The common man’s expectations | Sunday Observer

The Budget - The common man’s expectations

25 November, 2018

In the aftermath of the political crisis and as a result of the budget not being presented in Parliament, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, as the Finance Minister, is poised to present a vote on account in Parliament shortly, notwithstanding the unusual set up that has been created in the legislature where the UNF government has refused to step down following a decision by the President to appoint him as Prime Minister.

MP Dullas Alahapperuma said the government will introduce a relief package to help the people, adding that PM Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as Finance Minister will implement a package aimed at easing the people’s burdens while strengthening the country’s economy. “Agriculture and export sectors will receive tax concessions with a view to increasing investments,” he told journalists last week.

The Sunday Observer’s reporters spoke to a cross section of the public - working class, professionals, academics, students etc, and the business community, who ‘gave a piece of their mind’ to the Government, re the Budget - Here are some of their remarks- Amaradasa Gunawardena, 87, Wattala, former office assistant, and father of five married children.

“The budgets are always the same. I have not seen a budget that really helps middle class people like us. It does not matter what party the government is, they have an obligation to the general public. I am very old now, but I need a better future for my children and theirs.”

Anton Dickson - 55, Kesel Watta in Fort, Fruit seller in Manning Market, Father of three children (aged between 7 and 18 years).

“The budget is very important to people like us. We find it extremely hard to live these days. Everything is expensive. We can’t carry on living this way. What I earn by selling fruits is not enough to support my family.

People like myself urge the lawmakers to reduce prices of essential goods.”

Priyantha Pigera- 46, Delgoda, Three-wheeler driver, Father of two. “We are more concerned about the current political unrest in the country.

More than the budget we need the lawmakers to resolve their issues and have a proper government. Then we can look at the budget.”

H. Madushi- 35- Private sector employee in Colombo “I don’t think the government can reduce the prices of goods any further. They have to pay off loans. I think it is better that they increase the VAT on luxury vehicles rather than increasing the prices of essential goods. That way, only a small percentage of people will be affected.”

Ishara Dahanayake- 30, From Kandy. Housewife living in Borelesgamuwa.

“I am expecting a reduction in essential goods’ prices. Every year the prices of goods increase. We are affected badly by the sky rocketing prices. It is hard to manage with a single salary. Fuel prices need to decrease. That way, the prices of all other goods will gradually come down.”

Prof.K.Amirthalingam, Department of Economics, University of Colombo I’d like to stress two things. At the micro level I believe public sector salaries are a major issue. The public sector employees today draw a five digit salary but many public servants are struggling with debts and bank loans.

Sri Lanka became a welfare state in the 1940s with the introduction of free healthcare and education but we have not been able to eradicate poverty. The mismatch between the income and expenditure, in other words, low salary, is a key factor for this and also a factor contributing to undernourishment among the people. Compared to India and Nigeria we have a high rate of undernourishment, it is about 25% of the population.

The salary issue is more or less common to the private sector and the informal sector, where there is no job security.

At the macro level, I am extremely dissatisfied with the infrastructure development, especially in the Western province which contributes to 40% of the country’s GDP.

The government must address the problem of internal migration and provides some solutions through the budget, to the exclusive issues facing the Western province. Road development in rural areas has been satisfactory but not in the Western province - Major work to upgrade infrastructure is required, to ease traffic congestion and resultant wastage of fuel.There should be no further delay.

Naveen Lakshitha Chandrasekara- 25 from Kurunegala, undergraduate at the University of Colombo “For the most part, the former government of Mahinda Rajapaksa was famous for increasing the military expenses in the budget.

It is cardinal that we should force the government to increase the allocations for education, health, enterprises, exports, and many more sectors instead of (Parliamentarians) using the spoon to feed themselves”.

Comments