Income increased by only 0.5 per cent – Harsha
By Zahrah Imtiaz- July 25, 2014
Ever since Mahinda Rajapaksa took over the government in 2006, the real income of a household has only increased by 0.5%, said UNP MP Dr. Harsha de Silva, in Parliament yesterday.
He made this observation when Deputy Minister...
...of Finance and Planning, Dr. Sarath Amunugama revealed the average income of households since 2006.
The deputy minister, who quoted statistics from the Department of Statistics said, the mean nominal income of a household (of four people) in 2006/07 was Rs 26,286, in 2009/10 it was Rs 36,451 and in 2012/13 it was Rs 45,878.
In contrast to this, the real mean income of a household (adjusted after inflation) was in 2006/07 Rs 26,286, in 2009/10 Rs 26,433 and in 2012/13
Rs 27,115.
"Your numbers show that though the mean income had increased by 74% since 2006, in reality, people have only had a 0.5% increase in their income. How do you then justify the government's statement that people are earning more under this government?" asked Dr. de Silva. He observed that the mean nominal income had only increased by three per cent over the last six years. Dr. Amunugama in response said the numbers did not take into account the various welfare programmes available to the people,
"The government provides free education, health and other subsidies which are not taken into account here".
The deputy minister asked that Dr. de Silva not manipulate figures which were mere averages, and did not take into account the various sections of society which were doing better under the current regime.
Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa has had many words of praise for UNP MP Dr. Harsha de Silva after he had questioned in parliament on July 23 about the Mahinda Rajapaksa international airport at Mattala, the biggest white elephant of the Rajapaksa regime, opposition sources in parliament say.
By Zahrah Imtiaz- July 25, 2014
Ever since Mahinda Rajapaksa took over the government in 2006, the real income of a household has only increased by 0.5%, said UNP MP Dr. Harsha de Silva, in Parliament yesterday.
He made this observation when Deputy Minister...
...of Finance and Planning, Dr. Sarath Amunugama revealed the average income of households since 2006.
The deputy minister, who quoted statistics from the Department of Statistics said, the mean nominal income of a household (of four people) in 2006/07 was Rs 26,286, in 2009/10 it was Rs 36,451 and in 2012/13 it was Rs 45,878.
In contrast to this, the real mean income of a household (adjusted after inflation) was in 2006/07 Rs 26,286, in 2009/10 Rs 26,433 and in 2012/13
Rs 27,115.
"Your numbers show that though the mean income had increased by 74% since 2006, in reality, people have only had a 0.5% increase in their income. How do you then justify the government's statement that people are earning more under this government?" asked Dr. de Silva. He observed that the mean nominal income had only increased by three per cent over the last six years. Dr. Amunugama in response said the numbers did not take into account the various welfare programmes available to the people,
"The government provides free education, health and other subsidies which are not taken into account here".
The deputy minister asked that Dr. de Silva not manipulate figures which were mere averages, and did not take into account the various sections of society which were doing better under the current regime.
Speaker commends Dr. Harsha de Silva!
- Friday, 25 July 2014
- General
Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa has had many words of praise for UNP MP Dr. Harsha de Silva after he had questioned in parliament on July 23 about the Mahinda Rajapaksa international airport at Mattala, the biggest white elephant of the Rajapaksa regime, opposition sources in parliament say.
The speaker was overjoyed to hear Dr. de Silva’s remark in the House that curd sellers of Hambantota earn more than what the Mattala international airport had earned last May, which is Rs. 16,185.
Replying to the UNP MP in the manner of an island reconvicted criminal (IRC), aviation services minister Priyankara Jayaratne has asked, “Is that a problem for you?” Intervening, speaker Rajapaksa has advised the minister, “Mr. minister, before answering, read the question properly first.” However, the minister could not give a satisfactory answer to the question, and could only utter “We expect to make Mattala airport a profit-earning one in the future.” Speaking for the opposition, the speaker has responded sarcastically, “Good. Let’s wish the minister good luck in the future!” The aviation services minister has promptly informed the president about the response he has received from the speaker.
Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa has been opposing the Mattala airport and the Magampura port from the beginning, and told the media recently that the Rajapaksas would have been respected for at least 100 years by the people of Ruhuna had the money used on these two been spent to build 100 tanks.
