'Budget passed to strengthen President's hands to eliminate terror'

by Ananda Kannangara

The Sunday Observer last week asked people on the street their comments on the results of the second reading of the Budget that Government passed by 16 votes. Below are the excerpts of the interviews.

Priyantha Pushpakumara of Panadura said: "Although the Government won the Budget, Parliamentarians should not be overwhelmed with the results, since they have not brought any proposal to reduce the cost of living considering the living conditions of downtrodden people in the country.

Nimal Ediriweera of Polgasowita said: "If he were a Parliamentarian, he too would have voted for the Budget, not because of anything else, but to encourage the President to go ahead with the war.

"But on the other hand, I feel sorry as the President as he has not made any announcement to reduce the prices of essential commodity items as expected by people."

A mercantile sector executive Rajiv Dissanayaka said "Good that the President has not granted any salary increase for public servants through the Budget, as if he had done, as in the previous years, definitely the prices of essential items would be increased again.

Ranjan Dushantham said: We are confident that the Parliamentarian had voted to retain their benefits and privileges.

A retired school principal Kumarasiri Balapatabendi said that passing the Budget in not a difficult task for the Government, as long as the MP's are given Ministerial portfolios with all benefits. "However, Mr. President keep in mind that people admire the efforts, taken by you to end the decades old war, but most of them expected a relief from the skyrocketing cost of living,"

A carpenter Siripala Herat said all his family members voted for the Government at the last Parliamentary Election, expecting economic relief.

"Although the Government passed the Budget by 16 votes, I hope it dit not fulfil the aspirations of poor people, as for me it was a Budget to improve business establishments of Millionaire businessmen in the country.

Dr. Rajiv Balasubramaniam of Moratuwa said: "I am personally happy with the results obtained at the second reading last week when thinking about the President's commitment to end the war.

"But, I have not seen any price reduction of essential commodity items which will immensely benefit the middle class,"

Mr. Kamalika Silva of Piliyandala said: "Even at the beginning I thought the Government would pass the Budget with a big majority, but it would have been better if it had been passed with a simple majority.

Schoolboy Gayan Sampath said: "I thought the Budget would be defeated by the Opposition, so that, the President would listen to the grievances of the masses and reduce the prices of flour, sugar and milk foods after the second reading.

Prof. Rajind Walisundara said: "I do not know why the MPs in villages voted for the Budget when the Government was unable to fulfil some major pledges, made during the last election period, including the fertiliser subsidy, mid- day meal to schoolchildren and a bag full of nutritious food to pregnant mothers.

"I think our MPs voted for the Budget to preserve their privileges including the pension, medical benefits and unlimited free fuel allocations," said that the Government had not sought the views of ordinary people for their proposals for the Budget.

A retired university Professor Kamalasena Wijayabahu said if a secret election was held in the Parliament, the Government would have won it by more than 70 vots.

"The reason was majority young MPs would like the Government to stay in power for their personal benefit,".

Sugathapala Siriwardana of Makuluduwa said: "Although the Government passed the controversial Budget, I think majority of Ministers are not happy with some Budget proposals, since none of them had helped to reduce the cost of living.

"Authorities must know when the COL goes up, robberies and similar crimes too take place everywhere." A rubber cultivator Piyasena Nandasiri of Matugama said although the Budget was passed, the Government could not fulfil many pledges made by them, including the granting of fertiliser subsidy for rubber growers.

A university student Supun Kamalawarna of Peradeniya was not happy with the Budget as it was unable to reduce the taxes of medicine and medical equipment.

A furniture shop owner Ranjan Subasinghe of Moratuwa said that although the JVP voted against the Budget last week, they would never defeat the Government at the third and decisive reading on December 14.

A medical student Kanchana Peris of Peradeniya said: "Whoever politician who abstains from voting on the Budget day or any other voting at the Parliament, it means he or she indirectly supports the proposal.

Sirimewan Abeyadeera of Ganemulla said: "I like this Government to be in power, but unnecessary spending made by MPs such as going on foreign trips with their families must be curtailed.

"So, the colossal sum of money, spent on these trips could be diverted to grant subsidies on essential food items,".

A mercantile sector banker Nandasiri Kumarapeli asked the Parliamentarians not to be happy too much over the Budget victory as the prices of essential items have gone up unbearably. "They must be aware that the monthly income of nearly 70 per cent families in the country is less than Rs. 8000. Accordingly, we should think how they", how they cope with the high cost of living.

Nemsiri Silva of Wadduwa said: "Even the Government will pass the next budget reading too, I will request the President to seriously consider reducing the number of ministries from 108 to 35 and cut many other unnecessary spending.

A trishaw owner Sugath Seneviratna of Homagama said: the Government passed the Budget with the votes obtained from its Ministers and not from the people.

"Therefore, I request the President not to be happy with this victory since the poor people, especially like us who hardly earn and those who are in the plantation sector are suffering due to the high cost of living.