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Video: Govt. wasting billions while poor are ignored

8 November 2013 03:42 pm - 17     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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United National Party (UNP) Western Provincial Councillor Harshana Rajakaruna said the government was spending billions of rupees for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) while turning a blind eye to the plight of the poor, who were badly in need of relief.

“The Government has imported 54 luxury Mercedes-Benz cars worth more than Rs.1.6 billion for delegates. It has allocated Rs.800 million for the media room; Rs.50 million for the opening ceremony; Rs.5 million for the carnival at Battaramulla; Rs.15 million for the CHOGM website; Rs.54 million to put up tents and Rs.25 million for landscaping the Baththaramulla Janakala Kendraya. But when the poor people in Gampaha pleaded for drinking water, three poor people were killed.

The government paid no heed to the appeal by University Academics for a 6% budget allocation for education. It has still not provided the public and private sector employees with the long outstanding Rs.10 000 pay hike,” Mr. Rajakaruna said and added that the farmers’ pension scheme has also been neglected.

He said all these unnecessary expenses would have to be borne by the poor people because the electricity tariffs, petrol and diesel prices would be increased to cover the CHOGM expenses.

Mr. Rajakaruna said the government was attempting to win the international acclaim by entertaining the Heads of Governments.

“We have agreed to ensure democracy, human rights, freedom of speech, equality, and devolution of power as a member of the Commonwealth and if we are to win the acceptance of the international community, we need to make sure that those rights are upheld in the country. Without doing so, we cannot please them just by entertaining them,” he said.

He said the government had stopped external degrees at Sri Jayewardenepura and Kelaniya Universities to promote Private universities.

“This is unfair for more than 100,000 students who are unable to gain entrance to Universities. We request the government to restart the external degrees at the state universities to facilitate those who are unable to gain entrance to universities,” Mr. Rajakaruna said. (Ajith Siriwardana)


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  Comments - 17

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  • ANTON Saturday, 09 November 2013 01:23 AM

    IF YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE WIND, ADJUST YOUR SAIL.

    Devaka Saturday, 09 November 2013 01:06 PM

    (YAWN). Who is this fellow?

    Game Kolla Saturday, 09 November 2013 04:52 AM

    I would say UNP and SLFA are two sides of the same coin.

    Cobra Saturday, 09 November 2013 03:56 AM

    We aren't got any sails or any oars, just drifting hoping for manna from heaven and mother nature has not been favorable either!!!

    ANTON Saturday, 09 November 2013 03:08 AM

    ...... AND RAJAYE SEVAKAYAA IS GETTING ANNUAL SOCHCHAN SALARY INCREMENT.

    born_during_conflict Saturday, 09 November 2013 02:41 AM

    Funnily enough, the same amount of corruption existed in the past while absolutely nothing happened in terms of development. There's many strong UNP supporters who have realized this. At the end of the day, the UNP needs to stop mud slinging at the government like a bunch of whiners and revamp their entire campaign to be the great party it once was.

    Flatwhite Saturday, 09 November 2013 02:24 AM

    Now the heat has really turned on UNP trying to hide another defeat due to CHOGM under this Govt. Mate tell me when UNP did not waste money and looked after the poor not even in the wildest dream.I sthis man born in 2013

    Cobra Saturday, 09 November 2013 02:17 AM

    Not really wasting: Half of the money goes to their Swiss accounts and the rest is supposedly spent on projects out of the priority list!!!!!!

    ANTON Saturday, 09 November 2013 01:28 AM

    YOUR PARTY ALSO WASTED BILLIONS FOR NOTHING.

    Rubert Vanderkoon Friday, 08 November 2013 05:14 PM

    How about your party leaders travelling abroad on almost weekly basis? Do they give a toss?

    Punny Pellow Saturday, 09 November 2013 01:07 AM

    The poor will not be ignored for long. They will be further burdened after the CHOGM!

    Prof Wickramatillake Saturday, 09 November 2013 12:52 AM

    Exactly!! The Health Ministry itself says, "NO Radioactive Iodine to treat Thyroid cancer patients"

    SHEHAN Saturday, 09 November 2013 12:00 AM

    Just wasting your time speaking about theses minor stuff cos it's these same poor people u mentioned that vote for this government and its rulers.. Therefore stop wasting your time speaking about cost of living cost these poor people do not care about it...

    SHEHAN Saturday, 09 November 2013 12:00 AM

    Just wasting your time speaking about theses minor stuff cos it's these same poor people u mentioned that vote for this government and its rulers.. Therefore stop wasting your time speaking about cost of living cost these poor people do not care about it...

    Andrew Pitugala Friday, 08 November 2013 07:33 PM

    Not for the first time, it has been happening for a long time,
    while the opposition partities have been fighting among themselves.

    thusitha Friday, 08 November 2013 06:05 PM

    Harsana is a future hope of UNP than SP. Good Luck young man.

    CHANDRAPALA Friday, 08 November 2013 05:23 PM

    Don't cry about the wast and corruption of the government. People have approved all these thing at the last provincial council election.


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