The second Budget of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Government and the maiden Budget proposals of Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa were presented in Parliament on Friday, November 12.
It also marked the 76th Budget of Independent Sri Lanka. The long-awaited Budget proposals for the Financial Year 2022 presented during a global pandemic were applauded by Government and Opposition lawmakers from time to time. The Finance Minister said the National Policy Framework ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ was considered in its entirety in preparing Budget 2022.
Leader of the House and Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena presented the Notice of Motions and Orders of the Day. Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa arrived in the House amid the thumping of the Government Members on their desks. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was already in his seat and a minute later President Gotabaya Rajapaksa too arrived to listen to the Budget speech.
Minister Rajapaksa said, “The Budget proposals are being presented at a time when the country is grappling with five global challenges.” Government Members applauded when the Minister assured that the Government, however, had the confidence and the strength to face the challenges and to drive the country forward taking it out of this predicament.
They continued to thump on the desks when the Minister said that confidence has been strengthened with the valiant leader of the country who stands against corruption and fraud and with the two-thirds majority in Parliament. The Members applauded when the Finance Minister said that it is proposed to reduce Government expenditure by Rs. 33 billion in 2022 compared to 2021.
‘Vaccinated Nation in Asia’
The Finance Minister said, “We are a Government that walked the talk. Today, we have achieved vaccination targets. Therefore, today we are considered the ‘Vaccinated Nation in Asia’. We owe our special respect and gratitude to the President for leading the vaccination program.
Political stability
He said there is no more room for terrorism and extremism. Today Sri Lanka is one of the most peaceful countries. There is no other nation that loves the environment as this country. He said our country has the highest democratic political stability in the region.
“We have an Executive President elected by the people. Our President embodies simplicity, and is a leader, who is honest, makes firm decisions, and is dedicated to the eradication of corruption, fraud, and waste. The Minister said that this Parliament is led by Asia’s most mature political leader, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. He is a leader who has rendered an extraordinary service to this nation,” he said.
Commendable
Government lawmakers who spoke to the media following the Budget said the Budget proposals for 2022 presented by Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa were commendable as it was presented at a time when the country was facing numerous challenges with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mass Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said the Government has taken every step to not heap burdens on the public through the 2022 Budget. The Minister while commending strenuous efforts taken by Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa to ease the burden on the public in face of a global economic downturn, said that the Government has allocated Rs. 30 billion to rectify the salary anomalies of teachers and principals.
He said the maiden Budget presented by the Finance Minister has given solutions to many burning issues irrespective of economic constraints due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “The allocation of Rs. 30 billion to rectify the salary anomalies of teachers and principals through the Budget is highly commendable at a time the entire world is facing economic constraints,” he said.
Aladdin’s lamp
SJB Parliamentarian Dr. Harsha de Silva said the people thought Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa would present a Budget proposal similar to that of an Aladdin’s Lamp for the financial year 2022. However, that did not happen. It has not given anything to the people. He said that it has not focussed on the people who cannot buy a kilo of rice and a gas cylinder.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said the Budget 2022 presented by the Government is an attempt to deceive the people. Premadasa said that the people expected a progressive Budget, however, it only carries empty promises.
He said, “The people wanted a pro-people Budget but they only got some nonsense. There is no structure in this Budget. There is no plan to reduce the Budget deficit and address the cost of living. There is no program to build people’s lives and uplift the farmer. This is a Somalian-style Budget. This is a Budget that has deceived the people.”
“This Budget is like a blank slate with no short-term, medium-term or long-term plans to improve the economic condition of the people,” he said.
“Support what is right”
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said he did not expect the Opposition to oppose everything but to support what is right for the future of the country. The country has been opened and all activities have commenced under the new normal but there is a risk of another surge in Covid-19 infections due to certain activities including protests and demonstrations.
President Rajapaksa said this situation could lead to the country being shut down again adding that the Opposition should realise the seriousness of the damage this could do to the people and the economy.
Present need
At a function at Temple Trees on Wednesday, November 10 to mark the National Science Day, the President said, “Two years have passed in my tenure. During that period, the Government had to play a huge role to protect the people from Covid-19.
The then-rulers, the Opposition, should understand this situation. Due to the weaknesses and failures of their five years in power, the people elected me as the President. But today it is unfortunate to see the Opposition behaving like a group that had never been in power before. Taking steps to change this situation is the present need of the country for the sake of its future.”
“Worst” Parliament
SLFP General Secretary State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera said that the current Parliament is the “worst” Parliament he has been in his 17 years as a Parliamentarian.
At a media briefing Jayasekera said, “People voted for this Government expecting very intelligent and knowledgeable people to be in Parliament. I have been a Parliamentarian for 17 years and this is the worst Parliament I have ever come across. Some Parliamentarians don’t know how to talk, they are egoistic. The way they talk and behave only shows their stupidity.”
However, responding to media queries, SLPP General Secretary MP Sagara Kariyawasam dismissed SLFP General Secretary Jayasekera’s recent comment on the conduct of Ministers. Kariyawasam questioned the rationale in Jayasekera taking a critical stand while enjoying all perks and privileges as a State Minister. MP Kariyawasam challenged his colleague Jayasekara to be specific in his accusations. “Name the Minister and what the specific issue is,” MP Kariyawasam said.
TNA, SLMC and TPA leaders meet
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader R. Sampanthan has said that he is prepared to work with Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader Rauff Hakeem and Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader Mano Ganesan on matters related to Tamil speaking people.
The three leaders had recently met at the Colombo residence of TNA Leader Sampanthan. He was briefed on talks held in Jaffna recently between Tamil and Muslim political parties. TPA Leader Mano Ganesan said that the TNA Leader had stressed the need for unity among Tamil-speaking political parties to reach a political solution for the Tamils. The TNA Leader had said that Tamil and Muslim Parties must join hands to win the rights of Tamil-speaking people.
Unparliamentary language
Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage attempted to calm and quieten State Minister Lohan Ratwatte in Parliament, when the latter started to behave aggressively towards the Opposition while Minister Aluthgamage was responding to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s statement on the fertiliser issue in the country. The Opposition Leader delivering a statement questioned the Government’s stance on the fertiliser issue and the recently imported Nano Liquid fertiliser from India.
When the Agriculture Minister was responding, one SJB Parliamentarian said that some farmers in the Gampaha district had not received compensation for crops from the Government yet. Then Minister Aluthgamage requested the MP to submit the information so that he will look into the issue.
At this juncture, Ratwatte who was sitting next to the Minister started to shout at the Opposition. Minister Aluthgamage signalled Ratwatte to sit down. Then Ratwatte used unparliamentary language against the Opposition MP. Aluthgamage made several attempts to silence Ratwatte to no avail. Minister Aluthgamage was seen placing his hands on Ratwatte’s head in an attempt to calm him, while he was speaking.
Another course of action
Lanka Sama Samaja Party Leader Prof. Tissa Vitarana said that if the leadership of the SLPP ignores him and the 11 allied parties in the Government, the situation will not change and they too will have to think of another course of action.
At a recent media briefing at Bandarawela Prof. Vitarana said, “We are not considered by the leadership of the SLPP. Now, for example, after the August election, neither the President nor the PM held a meeting with us. All 11 leaders of political parties meet now every two weeks to talk about the problems of the people and do what we can for them. If the Government acts according to that influence then the problems of the people could be solved. But if not, then we have to think of another way.”
SLPP Chairman, Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said that there couldn’t be several Governments within an administration and declared that the SLPP wouldn’t accept an Opposition group within the Government.
At the weekly press briefing at the party headquarters, the Minister said that whatever the issues and differences of opinion within a coalition after the Government took a stand on a particular matter the entire parliamentary group should abide by it.
NFF Leader Minister Wimal Weerawansa, PHU Leader Minister Udaya Gammanpila and DLF Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara recently broke ranks with the SLPP leadership over the Government’s agreement with New Fortress Energy on the Yugadanavi power plant.
The coalition party leaders at their first press conference said that they wouldn’t keep quiet for ministerial perks and privileges but take a stand in public interest.
Reiterating the SLPP’s call to address whatever the issues at hand, they should be addressed within the parliamentary group; Prof. Peiris said that their problems shouldn’t be taken to the public nor external issues allowed to interfere with their program. Prof. Peiris said that the failure on the part of the constituent parties to reach consensus on issues of public importance undermined public confidence as well as that of the international community.
Speculation
There was media speculation that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had rejected the resignation submitted by Justice Minister Ali Sabry after the latter expressed his displeasure at the Gazette notification issued over the ‘One County One Law’ concept.
Political sources had confirmed that President Rajapaksa was in discussion with Minister Sabry during the past few days regarding the issue. Although the Presidential Task Force appointed to study and draft the proposals of the One Country One Law will continue to be headed by Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gananasara Thera, it has been conveyed that the proposals will eventually have to be presented to the Justice Ministry for further consideration.
Minister Sabry had clearly conveyed this to the President and both he and the President are now in discussions to stick to the original concept which was discussed which would be advantageous for all communities in the country and would have to be finally legally approved before becoming law.
Heated argument
A heated argument ensued in Parliament on Monday, November 8 following a demand by UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe that the Government table the Yugadanavi agreement and the report of the Glasgow Summit attended by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The UNP leader said Sinhala and Tamil translations of the documents should be made available. He said, “Several parties have not yet seen the Yugadanavi agreement and we want to study it prior to making our observations.”
Leader of the House and Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said the COP20 summit held in Glasgow is a very important event and the President not only participated in it but also carried out part of the responsibility as the co-lead. However, as it was issued in English, we will first table the English document in Parliament and thereafter the two translations.”
Minister Gunawardena said that the relevant Minister would table the Yugadanavi agreement in Parliament in the near future.
“Inside is falling apart”
Former President and Polonnaruwa District Parliamentarian Maithripala Sirisena told the Parliament on Thursday, November 11 that he would resign if the statement made by Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage that he was living in a house built by connecting three houses was proved.
He said that during D.B. Wijetunga’s tenure as the Prime Minister, then President Ranasinghe Premadasa had connected two summit flats and constructed the house. He said, “This is not a luxury house as many see it from the outside. The inside is falling apart, but there are valuable trees here that had been planted by Wijetunga.”
Former President Sirisena said that he got the house from Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and that he had given the house he used to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He said that he took this opportunity to clarify several allegations levelled against him by Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage.
Sirisena said that Aluthgamage had mentioned in a discussion that he had been drinking whiskey and partying during his term as the President. “However, anyone who knows me knows that I don’t endorse drinking and smoking and I did my best to rid the country of these bad habits.”
Speaking after Maithripala Sirisena’s statement, Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that he would make a statement in the future regarding the former President’s statement.