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Last Updated : 2024-04-24 08:14:00
16 November 2017 08:13 pm - 21 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
While claiming that fraud and corruption of the government had put the country into an economic crisis, former President and MP Mahinda Rajapaksa said today no plan had been proposed in the budget or future development programmes by the President and the Prime Minister to come out of it.
Speaking during the budget debate, he said the debt obtained by the government during the last three years had increased by Rs. 2,773 billion from Rs. 7,391 in 2014 to Rs. 10,164 billion.
He said it was the Sirisena and Wickremesinghe government that had put the country into a debt trap even though they accused his government of doing so.
"We had reduced debt burden to the debt to GDP ratio by 71 per cent when we handed over the government. But now it had increased to 85 per cent. We managed debt servicing effectively by reducing the interest rate. But today the government had increased government expenses on its own and faced an economic crisis," he said.
He said his government had spent the loans on ending the war, reconciliation process and development programmes in the North and in the other parts of the country.
"We constructed ports, airports, state buildings and developed road network in the country. But the present government has not done any development programme or developed infrastructure," he said.
Mr. Rajapaksa said the government's fraud and corruption had gone up where they had to pay Rs. 145 billion as interest due to the bond scam, Rs. 15 billion as compensation due to cancellation of the Srilankan airlines order to purchase airbuses and Rs. 21 billion due to the cancellation of the port city project," he said.
He said people and businessmen had to pay twofold of the tax they paid in 2014 and added that the government was boasting about increasing tax revenue.
Mr. Rajapaksa also said that the budget had proposed to sell state resources to foreigners by liberalising laws to enable foreigners to buy lands without any obstacle.
He said the government had no power to sell or lease out state resources without peoples' approval and added that steps would be taken to nationalise state resources sold or lease out without peoples' approval. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)
Dhammika Thursday, 16 November 2017 08:20 PM
You mean how much is allocated to the former President ! .
VMS Friday, 17 November 2017 12:25 AM
MR thinks we all are nutters and he is only clever in our country. We are today in this problem due to his own action.
ali Friday, 17 November 2017 01:10 AM
"Pinching the baby and rocking the cradle" story
Mevan Friday, 17 November 2017 02:27 AM
You and your family created the mess for which poor people of the country have to pay.
Rohan Salgado Friday, 17 November 2017 02:28 AM
To overcome the current economic crisis , all your family assets that is the country's wealth that was robbed by your family should be nationalized. Please make that proposal.
lion Friday, 17 November 2017 03:11 AM
you are the main course all these economic ills. Your harbor without ships your airport without plains.
sugath Friday, 17 November 2017 03:22 AM
Mr does not have the proper interlect to analyse a budjethe gets some one else to do the home work and comes back as if his own theory,he hardly had the proper qualifications even to do the law course in the law collegehe got in as a back ward applicant,it is cold hard fact
rajs26 Friday, 17 November 2017 04:24 AM
Economic crisis created by you by stealing the country coffers
Damith Friday, 17 November 2017 06:08 AM
Oh yeah? Did you get people's approval when you SOLD outright the army headquarters on Galle Face?
Cheap Justice Friday, 17 November 2017 07:36 AM
Why don't you refund the loot stolen by you like returning the tsunami funds in 2005!!!!
Wise Donkey Friday, 17 November 2017 11:00 PM
What about the billion from 'sil redi'?
Bala Friday, 17 November 2017 08:18 AM
You created this debt trap - why not you suggest a solution as well instead just finger pointing.
Wise Donkey Friday, 17 November 2017 09:26 AM
If all the corrupt politicians of the past and present were to return the money they robbed from the state we don't need any loan from IMF or any other country. Let's see any one comes forward?
Ronnie Bugger Friday, 17 November 2017 09:31 AM
Just look who's caling the kettle black
Dhammika Friday, 17 November 2017 10:40 AM
You , MR , created this situation and why not you show the solution as well ? .
gamini Friday, 17 November 2017 12:34 PM
Rs. 15 billion as compensation due to cancellation of the Srilankan airlines order to purchase airbuses and Rs. 21 billion due to the cancellation of the port city project," are savings in the long run as the country would have lost much more had these contracts gone ahead, which were implemented by you purely for you 10%
alex Friday, 17 November 2017 12:36 PM
what a load of crap for the consumption of the foolish masses.How did MR arrive at the figure of Rs.145 Billion.SL as a nation does not have that kind of money
sunanda Friday, 17 November 2017 12:39 PM
did you get the peoples approval when you sold everything to the chinese or when you looted the wealth of this country or when you stole Tsunami fundsOR when you sent the white van to "pick up"" people for a one way trip
ralahamy Friday, 17 November 2017 04:37 PM
Are you happy with the present situation of the country?Where is your usual question - Dhen Hondada? Dhen Satutudha? Dhen Ethidha?
FRAUDER Friday, 17 November 2017 08:29 PM
ITS. ALL. BE COS. OF. YOU. via DM Android App
Kadiya Saturday, 18 November 2017 07:22 AM
Talk is cheap because it exceeds demand!!!
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