Village at the heart of Budget 2013 - Minister Basil Rajapaksa

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa told Parliament yesterday that every budget presented by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Parliament since he assumed office in 2005 has paved the way to bring Sri Lanka up to a certain standard within the global level while giving every possible benefit to the people to uplift their socio-economic conditions.

Winding up the second reading of Budget 2013, the Minister said President Mahinda Rajapaksa's Mahinda Chinthana and Mahinda Chinthana Vision for the Future were not like other political manifestos which usually become invalid after the elections. Mahinda Chintana and Mahinda Chinthana Vision for the Future were introduced as policy documents which can be used as socio-economic programs to develop the country.

He said Budget 2013 is based on several key aspects such as food security, preservation of the environment, water and energy in a more productive manner.

The Budget has laid emphasis on providing electricity, drinking water, housing, health and sanitary facilities. It also contains proposals to provide better education to children. The Budget has introduced a wide range of programs to uplift the people. Divi Neguma was also introduced to realise this ultimate objective.

Minister Rajapaksa said the Budget has given priority to empowering the villages. President Rajapaksa presented every Budget targeting villages because nearly 80 percent of the people live in villages and estates. Under the Gama Neguma program, a one million allocation is made to develop 36,000 villages in 14,026 Grama Niladhari divisions.

The Budget 2013 has made investments to empower each segment of the population. The Budget has given direct benefits to nearly 55 percent of the people. Poverty, which was at 15.2 percent, has been reduced to 8.9 percent in 2011. The ultimate target of the Government is to reduce this to 4.2 percent by 2016. The Government also intends to increase the present Per Capita Income of US$ 2,836 to US$ 4,470 by 2016, the Minister said.

Referring to remarks made by UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera, in his speech on the Hambantota Port and the Southern Expressway, the Minister told the MP not to look at these projects with hypocrisy as these projects are long-term investments. Sri Lanka has become the only country in Asia which provides 24 hours of uninterrupted electricity to the people due to initiatives taken by the President to start power projects such as Norochcholai.

The Minister said, when an analysis is made, we have to consider the situation which prevailed when President Rajapaksa took over the country in 2005.

At that time, the people had lost even their fundamental human right of living. Eight districts had been declared LTTE-controlled areas through an agreement while fishing activities had been restricted in two thirds of the sea area. Investments had declined to zero.

"Our war heroes could eradicate terrorism and unite the country under one flag due to the dynamic leadership given by the President".