Minister Basil Rajapaksa winds up Budget debate:

Massive 85 percent increase in State sector employment

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa who wound up the Second Reading debate on the Budget on behalf of the Government made a detailed analysis on the economic accomplishments of the Government during the past few years.

He said all the budgets presented by President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the past nine years were connected with each other.

The Budget 2015 has laid emphasis on certain areas where no former Government had focused their attention on .

He said after the dawn of peace, an opportunity has been created for everyone to live without fear. The Divi Negum program introduced by the Government has played a vital role to develop the livelihood of the people.

Minister Rajapaksa said the number of 633,729 State sector employees in 2003 has increased to 12,98,529 in 2014 which is 84.14 percent

increase. Initiatives were taken by the Government to ensure job security of employees. In addition, steps were taken to expand the pensioners rights. The Government has also encouraged the private sector to generate employment.

The Minister also made a statistical analysis on the development made in electricity, telecommunications and the motor vehicle sectors. The Government intends to make the country self sufficient in fresh milk by 2016.