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Sports cars for playboys, taxes for the poor, UNP rejects budget

by Zacki Jabbar-November 8, 2012,

Since the Budget presented by President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday has no tangible proposals to reduce the high Cost of Living,the UNP will be voting against it,Chief Opposition Whip, John Ameratunga said.

He told The Island that the 2013 budget had failed to address the unprecedented percentage rise in the prices of essential goods and services ,which was the most important issue as far as the poor were concerned.

Public servants who had been agitating for a Rs.10,000 salary increase, which was a realistic figure in the current context,have been fooled once again. They are to be given a camouflaged Rs.1,500 monthly allowance, of which only Rs.750 would be paid in the first six months of next year,the MP noted.

Ameratunga, said that Rajapaksa’s 2005 Presidential Election pledge of a Rs.2,500 wage hike for public servants was yet to be implemented.

The biggest joke,he said was the tax concessions given for the import of racing cars,when the vast majority of people were struggling to find three square meals a day.

The “Mahinda Chintana” has transmogrified itself into a playground for rich playboys.The people were now demanding to know the identity of the ‘boys’ who will benefit by the cheaper import of high tech sports vehicles,Amertunga noted.

He,said that the increase in Revenue Licence Fees, will impact directly on the rising Cost of Living,since businesses will recover the percentage increase from consumers.

The prices of essential goods and services were increased prior to the budget and further shocks will follow after the Budget had been passed.In the interim the government will claim that the Appropriation Bill was pro poor ,the MP noted.