The main opposition UNP said today the budget was meant for the country’s super-rich and contained no relief to the ordinary people as evident by the exemption of taxes on sports cars and the permission granted to transfer funds deposited in foreign banks.
UNP MP and economist Harsha De Silva told the Daily Mirror that 99% of the population had been left in the lurch.
“It was presented by 1% of the country to the 0.1% of the country’s population. Who wants racing cars being imported to this country? Is that one of the issues that the people want addressed? The budget catered to the super rich. In fact it even allows the bringing down of deposits from foreign countries which I believe is to be invested in the stock market,” Dr. De Silva said.
“The rest of the country is left in the lurch. The farmers, fishermen and the hardworking people of the country have received no benefit at all. When they asked for a salary hike the government provides an exemption on taxes for racing cars,” he said
UNP MP Sujeewa Senasinghe said the budget was complete eyewash and contained no material benefit for the people except that it had permitted the free flow of black money and the import of racing cars for the elite.
“The only material benefit of the budget is bringing down racing cars such as Aston Martins, Lamborghinis and Mazaratis for the super-rich. It has also permitted the free flow of black money which has been deposited abroad,” he said.
Mr. Senasinghe said there was no salary increase or benefit to the ordinary people.
“The farmers, fishermen, private sector and public sector employees received little or nothing from this budget and it is only going to be harder for the people. Nothing has changed and it is a waste of two hours” he said.
By Hafeel Farisz
Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
