Cry baby roles and baseless theories won't work

The Opposition was stunned by the people-friendly Budget 2015 presented by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Planning in Parliament on November 24 and is trying to figure out how the Government granted salary increases to public servants while allocating billions of rupees for development and social welfare.

The Budget had something for everyone, for people of all walks of life. If one were to make a study on how the economy had been managed since President Rajapaksa first assumed office in November 2005, it is no surprise that the benefits passed on to the masses and the working class were the result of the far-reaching economic policies envisioned in the Mahinda Chinthana.

Although the Budget had baffled the Opposition, it is no surprise for those who reposed faith in Mahinda Chinthana. The Budget was not a mere load of promises but a visionary policy statement which President Rajapaksa unveiled when he first contested the Presidency in 2005. The masses endorsed his visionary statement which opened a new era in Sri Lanka economy.

Despite waging a relentless war against brutal LTTE terrorism, President Rajapaksa did not neglect the economy and development. The battle against terrorism and the mega development drive continued simultaneously and as a result, Sri Lanka recorded rapid economic progress.

No other country after such a bitter battlefield experience, recorded such remarkable achievement achievements. This was chiefly due to the excellent management of the economy under the Mahinda Chinthana. Even the global economic recession which hit some major economies in the world, did not have a big impact on Sri Lanka due to the precautionary steps taken under the President's direction.

Hence, the benefits passed on to the masses through Budget 2015 are not miracles but the result of sound management of the economy with the right policies.

The Opposition tried to make out that the benefits passed on to the masses were linked to the forthcoming elections. These allegations are baseless as the Government had always passed on the dividends of peace to the masses.

A year earlier, the Government pledged to reduce the electricity tariff when the final phase of the Norochcholai coal power plant was completed. In keeping with that promise, the President reduced the electricity tariff by 25 percent when the third phase of the Norochcholai coal power plant was commissioned.

Nine years of untiring efforts put the economy on the right track and bore fruitful results. The Government is now in a position to pass on those benefits to the masses, especially the working class and those in far-flung areas. This is another giant leap in Sri Lanka's ambitious forward march to become the Wonder of Asia.

Although the UNP's economic pundits and the JVP's 'always negative' sahodarayas seem to be perplexed by the relief granted by Budget 2015, it comes as no surprise to those who had been acutely aware of the manner in which the Government had handled the economy as they knew that the masses would derive these benefits sooner than later.

Sri Lanka became a middle-income earning nation, thanks to the proper management of the macro-economy after the end of LTTE terror five years ago. Budget 2015 is the fruits of growth harvested in the diligent pursuit of the correct economic policies since 2005.

There are three main components in Budget 2015; whether the proposals were feasible to achieve, whether there are plans to develop the economy and whether the proposals could bring about macro-economic stability.

If one were to analyse Budget 2015, it is evident that the President's proposals had prioritised the country's development.

The proposals clearly show that all facets of the local economy had been properly studied and addressed to provide something for people in every strata of society. Hence, Budget 2015 pursues the long-term economic policies adopted by the government up to now.

Going by previous budgets, it is manifest that long-term economic objectives targeted by Budget 2005 had evolved in the Budgets of 2006, 2007 and thereafter. These objectives will be achieved by 2020. Therefore, Budget 2015, is one positive step towards that goal.

Budget 2015 focused on reducing the proportion of the population living below the minimum level of dietary energy consumption and had addressed the issues of almost all sectors of the economy and the society.

Budget 2015 has addressed almost all sectors of the economy and the society with special emphasis on every sector. The budgets presented by the UPFA government during the past nine years created a knowledge-based and advanced economy.

Every Budget presented by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Planning targeted to create a knowledge-based economy. The UPFA Government Budgets from 2005 to 2010 strengthened peace and security. The Government's aim during the first five years in office was to promote peace and security along with development.

The Budgets after 2005 were aimed at developing infrastructure facilities and the people's livelihood. Budget 2015 marks the third stage of the government's economic development creation of a knowledge-based economy.

Several key policies enshrined in the Mahinda Chinthana had been the core of the budgets for the past ten years. Moreover, every budget proposal targeted to improve the indigenous economy.

The budget targets a Gross Domestic Product of USD 98 billion by 2016 and USD 185 billion by 2020. The Government targets to increase the per capita income to USD 4,470 by 2016 and USD 8,500 by 20120.

The Budget proposals encompass long-term plans to improve the educational, agricultural and industrial sectors.

The relief granted in Budget 2015 has added salt to the Opposition's wounds. The Opposition felt that the Government could never grant such commendable relief and benefits to the masses. The Opposition's wily attempts to drive a wedge between the masses and the Government have now been shattered.

Apart from the Opposition's internal squabbles and interminable meetings, it is finding it near impossible to present a so-called common candidate to contest the next Presidential election. From the day President Rajapaksa took office, the Opposition realised the difficulty to beat him at an election.

This was precisely why the Opposition resorted to undemocratic means to overcome its phobia to contest President Rajapaksa at an election.

The Government has won the hearts and minds of a new segment of people who had never voted for the UPFA or the SLFP. A sizeable segment of Colombo's traditional UNPers has now reposed implicit faith in President Rajapaksa's people-friendly policies which had opened new vistas for the rich and the poor alike.

Disgruntled Opposition politicians who are deeply congnizant that they are unable to defeat President Rajapaksa at an election or equal his immense popularity, are now spreading malicious stories about him. It is deplorable that they are making lame excuses to evade the strongest contender.

Rather than playing the cry baby roles and trotting out baseless theories that the incumbent President could not contest a third term, the Opposition must face the President's challenge.