UPFA will undo UNP damages: Susil

29 July 2015 02:05 pm

In the first six months of a UPFA government that was to be formed in the event of winning the August 17 poll, the Parliament would be turned into a Constitutional Assembly to introduce a new Constitution and electoral reforms, General Secretary of the UPFA Susil Premajayantha said.

Premajayantha, who is contesting from the Colombo District, told the media at the SLFP head office that all unfair acts, layoffs, transfers and other punishments, evictions and ill treatment on UPFA and SLFP supporters allegedly committed since January 8 would be reversed and justice would be done within two weeks of office by a UPFA regime.

“We will restart all development projects small, medium and major, suspended by this government in the first week of coming to power and re-instate all 70,000 employees, who have lost their jobs who served under those projects.

“We will reopen the Central Bank bond issue scam and expose all those who have allegedly involved in the controversial transaction. We expect to attend to all these remedial measures as a priority before we really spring into action to implement our development and restructuring programmes on the economy, trade, industry, foreign policy, education, environment and health,” Premajayantha stressed.

He said following the UPFA manifesto titled A Guarantee to the Future under the slogan Let’s Power the Country – Let’s Start Afresh, which was launched on Wednesday at the Hendry Pedris Grounds at Havelock Town, the new UPFA government will treat the private sector as the engine of growth, while strengthening the State sector to create a level playing field in order to give the best.

“Our manifesto is youth oriented. Therefore, we have decided to provide maximum possible benefits from a future UPFA government to those who have failed GCE O/L through A/L vocational training, low interest loans and job placements after they complete their skill enhancing training. We will also give soft loans to graduates until they find a job and bursaries to University students will be increased,” he stressed.

Premajayantha said all illogical and unfair taxes imposed by the government in the last six months would be removed.

For instance, the tax imposed on hybrid motor cars would be removed and import of hybrid vehicles would be encouraged to minimise emissions.

Housing loans of up to Rs. 4 million with subsidized interest rates will be offered to tenants, newlyweds Rs.50,000 will be paid for women selected from all districts in the country to engage in successful self‐employment. They will be offered interest‐free loans upto Rs. 50,000 and low interest loans from Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 200,000.

Pregnant mothers and feeding mothers will receive milk, eggs, fruits and Thriposha. The allowance of Rs. 100,000 granted to armed forces and police families upon the birth of the 3rd child will be increased to Rs. 200,000.

Education up to GCE Ordinary Level will be made compulsory for all children.

Interest free loans will be provided via state banks to university students and all students who sit for G.C.E (A/L) examination to purchase a computer. A monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000 will be given to all preschool teachers, while an interest free loan up to Rs. 50,000 will be granted to all government approved preschools to purchase teaching equipment.(Sandun A Jayasekera)