A cross section of the Government legislators expressed their optimistic view of Budget 2017, as people-friendly and development oriented. They said, the budget has mainly focused on economic development rather than giving priority for populist policies for narrow political gain. However, the Joint Opposition (JO) members have castigated the Government for loading more burdens on the average man who already finds it difficult to make ends meet.
Minister for Special Assignments Dr. Sarath Amunugama
This budget has short term as well as long term benefits. In the short term, there are many proposals to bring down the cost of living which is already low, especially, the relief to the housewives, with the price reduction of gas. In the long term, there are proposals to improve education, health and create job opportunities. Finally, there is an attempt for consolidation to rationalise income and expenditure and pay back loans. I think this is a much better budget than last year’s because it is more rationale and well organised.
Minister of Parliamentary Reforms and Media, Gayantha Karunatilleka:
The Government has presented a people- friendly budget paving the way for the JO’s political decadence. The budget has also laid emphasis on journalists.. It has proposed to give interest free loans to journalists to purchase equipment. This loan scheme would benefit provincial journalists as well. Looking at the overall aspects of the budget, it has covered almost all key sectors from schoolchildren to farmers. It has proposed to further bring down the cost of living. Therefore, the entire country will accept this budget.
Minister of Public Enterprise Development Kabir Hashim:
This is a very progressive budget. Some people thought the Government has come for a T- 20 or a limited over match. We actually came to play a test match. This budget has a short, medium and long term mission in line with the Prime Minister’s economic vision and the budget exactly matches it. The problem is that the people still have not understood the problems created by the previous regime. These problems couldn’t have cropped up in a year. After ten years, it is absurd to see the JO talking about these problems because I don’t know whom they had represented during the past ten years. Some things are not easy to turn around and some problems are massive. So it needs time. We took our time setting the structure. Now we are ready, and believe the rural economy, the local production base has to be improved. Sri Lanka’s exports have dropped to 10 percent of the GDP. It is meant to increase the production base. This is the beginning and we have identified rural industries such as dairy, poultry, brass, fisheries and agriculture that can drive the country forward. So this is a good budget.
Former President and Kurunegala District UPFA MP Mahinda Rajapaksa:
The budget has caused immense pressure to the small man in all sectors. It has not given any relief to the masses. They will feel the true nature of the budget when it is implemented. The JO would vote against this budget. The Finance Minister has taken the people for a ride which in fact is a boost to the JO. The people will respond to the budget at the right time.
MEP Leader Dinesh Gunawardena:
The Government has presented a budget similar to the previous one which doesn’t solve the burning issues of the people.
The budget has further depreciated the rupee and increased the tax burden on the people. The budget has not proposed any solution for the foreign debt crisis. It has not given any relief to the people.
Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan:
This budget can be described as a very good budget. Especially, it has paid attention to the housing problem in the North and the East and we appreciate it.
The budget has also focused on schoolchildren. Normally, the people entertain big expectations from budgets. They have similar sentiments on the current budget as well.
Minister of Health Dr. Rajitha Senaratne:
The overall budget is very good and is people- friendly and development oriented. More allocations have been made to the health sector , as compared to all previous budgets. As we pledged to the people, 3.11 percent of the GDP has been allocated to the health sector. Budget 2017 has laid emphasis on the health sector. If more funds are necessary for the health sector, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake has pledged to provide them. This budget would definitely help take the country forward. It has given concessions to every sector including the media. Commenting on the JO’s decision to boycott the budget tea party, Minister Senaratne said, it is the vicious tradition practised in politics. On a particular occasion, I had a big confrontation with the then President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. At that time, the UNP decided not to participate in the budget tea party. But, I alone participated in it, because it is a parliamentary tradition practised since 1947. Even Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake and Dr. N. M. Perera shared a cup of tea at the budget tea party. Politicians such as Dr. N. M. Perera, Dr. Colvin R. de Silva and Dr. S.A. Wickremesinghe were true revolutionists and principled politicians compared to those in the JO today. Such illustrious political giants never engaged in this kind of petty politics, they were dignified politicians. Those who boycott the tea party secretly come through the back-door to get their things done.
Some say this is a budget which has imposed more taxes and fines.
The budget has increased tax on imported ethanol. The JO may be unhappy about this because some of the ethanol importers are in the JO. But the budget has reduced the tax on powdered milk. That is why we support this budget.
Deputy Minister of Public Enterprise Development Eran Wickramaratne:
There is a big difference between our economic policy and the economic policy adopted during the past decade. The purpose is to build a social market economy. Our economic policy gives priority for human capital rather than any other resource. The budget has introduced an insurance scheme for schoolchildren for the first time. Also, funds have been allocated to provide sanitary facilities for 1,000 schools which lack sanitary facilities. We have given priority for technical subjects. The budget has allocated funds to set up computer labs in 3,500 schools and provide computer tabs for 175,000 A/L students and 28,000 teachers. It has proposed to implement a program to increase the present intake of 26,000 students to universities up to 50,000 by year 2020, and introduced a concessionary loan scheme for students in private and non-governmental institutions as well as students in government vocational training centres. Therefore, the budget has given priority to build human capital. It has proposed to provide a Rs.500,000 housing loan at seven percent interest through the National Savings Bank to those who don’t have a shelter of their own. Most budgets contain only short term benefits.
The budget has also brought down the prices of essential food, fuel and gas, while introducing long term programs for future development.
JVP Leader and Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake:
Budget 2017 is a clear reflection of the economic crisis created in the country due to the present economic policy of the Government. In order to escape from the economic crisis, more taxes have been imposed on essential commodities. The budget, through the imposition of various taxes has curtailed the relief given to the people. In addition to the existing taxes, new taxes have been imposed. The budget doesn’t propose viable strategies to bridge the deficit. Budget 2017 doesn’t have any methodology to take forward the economic vision introduced by the previous budget.
UPFA Colombo District MP Bandula Gunawardena:
The Finance Minister’s budget is only words over a number of hours to mislead the people. It reminds me how a small child was trying to balance a bicycle! While calling upon the private sector to make their investments in various sectors, the budget has imposed a 10 percent capital gain tax.
The budget has exerted more pressure on the people. If the Government has pledged to provide relief to the people, no such proposal has been included. The people expected some sort of relief , but nothing of the sort is seen in the budget.
Minister of Agriculture Duminda Dissanayake:
The SLFP-UNP Government has been able to present a budget which suits the aspirations of the people. This is a historic occasion. Budget 2017 contains strategies to save the country from the economic crisis. It has given a series of concessions to many sectors.
We are happy that we could present the second successful budget of the ‘Yahapalana’ Government.
