Govt trying to privatise everything - Mahinda Rajapaksa

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

UPFA Kurunegala district MP Mahinda Rajapaksa told Parliament yesterday the Government hopes to sell many public sector organisations which were either started or developed during his time and pointed out that the Norochcholai power plant, Mobitel and the Mattala Airport are some of the institutions listed to be sold.

He alleged the incumbent government is attempting to privatise everything including electricity, ports, airports and that the entire Budget has been formulated to sell State resources and collect revenue.

"The government should reconsider these economic policies," he said.

"When we took over the government total debts were around 101 percent of the GDP and we brought it down to 75 percent. What do we hear from the government today? The government says it cannot pay public sector salaries and pensions. It says it cannot maintain public sector organisations. Don't be negative but think in a positive manner. If we thought in the same negative manner when the war was on, we would never have won the war. We had a positive mindset and were determined to win the war," he said.

Participating in the Committee Stage of the Budget debate yesterday, the former President said the government through the Budget has introduced a new methodology, that is to first increase taxes and later reduce them.

"People have no understanding on what they have gained and what they have lost through the Budget," he said.

The government after making certain amendments to the Budget says that they did so to uphold democracy. However, a question has arisen as to whether the government has made such changes due to its inability to fulfill its duties.

The former President thanked the government for its decision to add the Rs.10,000 allowance for public servants to their basic salary in three stages and add Rs.2,000 to their basic salary from next month.