A Proposal For The 2016 Budget: An Open Letter To The PM
By Chandra Jayaratne –October 4, 2015
Chandra Jayaratne
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
Prime Minister and Minister of Policy Planning and Economic Affairs,
Prime Minister’s Office,
58, Sir Ernest De Silva Mawatha,
Colombo 7.
Prime Minister and Minister of Policy Planning and Economic Affairs,
Prime Minister’s Office,
58, Sir Ernest De Silva Mawatha,
Colombo 7.
Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
A Proposal for the 2016 Budget to Address Key Issues of Regional Disparities in Household Incomes, and Achieve Sustainable Development, Reconciliation and Create New Livelihood Opportunities
This proposal supports the vision of the President as articulated in his recent address at the United Nations General Assembly, where he stated that “the edifice of sustainable development should be built upon the foundation of self-discipline and equity. If this could be practiced at a personal, community, national and global level, it would mark a giant leap forward for humankind” and proposed that “national leaders, take cognizance of this self-discipline and equity-based approach when drawing relevant Action Plans for the future”.
This proposal supports the vision of the President as articulated in his recent address at the United Nations General Assembly, where he stated that “the edifice of sustainable development should be built upon the foundation of self-discipline and equity. If this could be practiced at a personal, community, national and global level, it would mark a giant leap forward for humankind” and proposed that “national leaders, take cognizance of this self-discipline and equity-based approach when drawing relevant Action Plans for the future”.
This proposal recognizes the policy commitment of the new government
- To create one million new job opportunities;
- To take steps to minimize the income disparity, thereby further broaden the middle class;
- To ensure that development is spread equally to all parts of the country;
- Especially, to ensure the fruits of development reach the conflict-affected areas in the North and East, so-called border areas of those provinces that suffered due to the conflict and under developed areas in other parts of the country, it being the responsibility of the government to ensure all areas of the country are equally developed;
- To establish twenty five economic zones in selected districts;
- In regard to the challenges in preparing this country for that new era to be dawned in order to fulfill the ambitions of that new generation with future in mind, whilst protecting the shared values of our culture which bind the Sri Lankan nation.
