Govt. trapped in major financial quagmire: UNP

4 October 2012 10:38 am - 22 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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UNP parliamentarian Harsha de Silva today insisted that the government was facing a major crisis because it has got its priorities mixed up.

Addressing a media briefing in Colombo, he alleged that instead of cutting down on unnecessary expenses the government cut down on vital expenses in order to bridge the budget deficit.

"It allocates more money on unnecessary things such as developing the roads and tiling the pavements than the allocation on important sectors like higher education. He revealed that the government had cut down on the Capital expenditure of the Higher education by 47% in 2011 but had allocated more on roads and tiling the pavements which was of less priority," he said.

Mr. de Silva said even though the government was bragging about a free education in the country, people had spent more than the amount spent on education by the government to receive education.

He further said the economic progress in the country had reduced drastically than what it was during the time of the war. The budget deficit had been increasing year by year.

Mr. de Silva said the estimated budget deficit was 6.2% for this year but within the first six months it reached 5.67%, with six more months to go. It is clear that within the next three months electricity bills, fuel prices and levies on special commodities would increase, he said. (Ajith Siriwardana)

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Comments - 22

Manik Thursday, 04 October 2012 10:28 PM

Everything that you say is true. However as long as voters are not made aware nothing useful will happen. And until UNP gets a proper leader voters will be in the dark.

Sandu Friday, 05 October 2012 05:30 PM

Who bothers about economy, the whole country is behind T20

vat hora Friday, 05 October 2012 01:30 PM

Send to more people abroad.then we have money.

Nishantha Friday, 05 October 2012 12:46 PM

Please ask your leader come to street rather than going for a cup of tea to Temple Tree....!

Vimal Friday, 05 October 2012 08:59 AM

Opposition needs to get down to the streets.. just by holding press conferences they are not reaching out to the people that needed to be reach. Majority of people who listen to these press conference already know what is going on.

parak Friday, 05 October 2012 07:12 AM

It seems the public supports catchy and tangible short term things rather than long term development/benefits. If we enjoy today we suffer tomorrow and vice versa. Its their choice. For me the figures are frustrating.

Junior Citizen Friday, 05 October 2012 04:30 AM

Harsha will come out with some new theory every now and then to show his 'profundity' in economics ans finance

podi malli Friday, 05 October 2012 04:09 AM

Dr. first of all give the meaning to the name UNP...without a unity within the party you can do nothing..now .UNP are equipped with young and educated blood...get the maximum use of that under the leadership of RW...the man with a good vision and a poor talk...

shehan jayawardene Friday, 05 October 2012 01:40 AM

If SL wins the T20 world cup on Sunday, half the governments problems will be over. Our lotus eaters/kiribath eaters will be celebrating for the next couple of months and the government can increase the prices of essential items and the people won't give a damn!

frank hilary Friday, 05 October 2012 01:26 AM

At last Harsha had made some constructive criticism of govt. economic policies. Keep it up. This is what is expected of you.

len Friday, 05 October 2012 12:06 AM

Roads and payments are the priority some of you may not agree now Sri Lanka has passed France and rest of the world as No 1 tourism destination in the world country needs more hotels more Air ports and Supper High ways to cater for visitors.

willows Thursday, 04 October 2012 10:55 AM

Unfortunately this message is heard mainly in Colombo, is there a way you can send this message across the country, especially to the rural??

jay gunasekara Thursday, 04 October 2012 04:54 PM

The govt does not give two hoots about the country but stay in power for ever. The opposition is non effective and if the opposition candidate wins he is lured to the govt by giving positions to make a income.Manupilation is the game and the Medamukalana thugs,murderers and thieves are plundering the nation in plain sight and the people are applauding what a great job they are doing.Most srilankans can be fooled easily( eas bandung)

Lanka Shantha Thursday, 04 October 2012 04:36 PM

Sir you are great in economy.
But mass transport, mass communication are important thing for an emerging country.

perumal Thursday, 04 October 2012 03:48 PM

Nothing to worry so long as China is there to look after us, look behind us and think for us!

Calistus Jayatilleke Thursday, 04 October 2012 11:30 AM

It is obvious why there are more allocations for construction work rather than for education and health, because there is money to be made on tenders by way of commissions for those at top. To put it aptly in a Sinhala saying the government is like "peniheliyata vetunu ambalaya waage" (an ant who fell into a honeypot).

Citizen Perera Thursday, 04 October 2012 11:29 AM

Our priorities have been mixed up since independence and still we have to seek foreign assistance and expertise to build roads and important infrastructure. Those days British built roads and now carrying out construction work by Chinese. we are boasting about development.This country is heading for disaster.

Managala Thursday, 04 October 2012 11:16 AM

for rural people statistics do not matter. if their roads are fixed and the jobs are granted they don't care about the statistics on economy...
If you need to convince them you need to tell how their roads are not fixed and how jobs are not granted on time and about the relief aids also need to exaggerate the current situation as well...

Sumi Thursday, 04 October 2012 11:11 AM

The thing is the Common people see these Road and Pavement improvements as the DEVELOPMENT..
They dont know and dont care much of allocations for Higher education so it is just not marketable to the rural areas. Politicians make short term targets for next elections and dont see the BIG picture..

Managala Thursday, 04 October 2012 11:11 AM

I bet this is implemented same or worse than this if this is a UNP regime and especially international community will not be needed to bother you guys as your fully fledged to implement any thing west say you to do....
In politics in Sri Lanka there is no Black & Whites we have only blacks.Only difference is one party does not have power and seeking other is having power and abusing.....

Sam Thursday, 04 October 2012 11:07 AM

The Opposition is dead. The Government can do what it likes, and the Opposition will just give a few press conferences. This is the sad state of the Opposition today

Kuhan Thursday, 04 October 2012 11:04 AM

AFTER T-20 (7/10/2012) WE WILL HAVE MORE SURPRISES......

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Govt. trapped in major financial quagmire: UNP

Comments - 22

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