The Minister made this observation joining the second reading debate on the budget proposals today in Parliament.
"A democratic revolution occurred on January 08. If not for this revolution, things would have changed. I represented the Southern Province and was elected to the Parliament with a majority of votes than the Rajapakse's in the South", the Minsiter said.
"After the General Election held on August 17, 2015 the main two partied joined together and formed a national unity government. President Maithripala Sirisena presented the Policy Statement while Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe presented the Economic Policy Statement. Thereafter the first Budget of the new government was presented in Parliament by the Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake. It is a pleasure for me to talk in Parliament of these events as a Parliamentarian who entered the Parliament by obtaining highest preferential votes in the Southern Province", Minister Karunathilake said.
He said, " The 2016 budget will go into the annals of history as the most significant budget ever to be presented by a national government of consensus deviating from traditional political environment to create a new economic and social order for the benefit of all Sri Lankans".
"It is usual for the opposition to talk about the prices of Big Onions, Dhal, Sugar etc. In the past, the prices of essential consumer items could even topple a government. But this government has not given any room for it. This Budget has reduced prices of 11 essential consumer items, has allocated higher allocations for education and health sectors", the Minister said.
The opposition has only got two points to criticize about - Eco Test and price hike in motor vehicles. The Finance Minister will give answers to these two points this evening, Minister Karunathilake emphasised.
Budget 2016 has allocated 21,000 million rupees to develop 14,000 villages
The former President promisd to pay Rs.2500 to public servants. Did he pay it? But we made arrangements to pay Rs.10,000 to public servants as pledged. We reduced fuel and gas prices, increased the Mahapola and Bursary payments. The Finance Minister explained in Parliament how the money is to be found to make these payments.
This Unity Government has created a conducive atmosphere for investors. lso, measures will be taken to develop the tourism industry in the Bentara-Elpitiya area by establishing more hotels and developing other infrastructure facilities and thereby more employment opportunities will be created, Minister Karunathilake said.
He further pointed out that there is media freedom today and there is a new political culture in the country with Maithri-Ranil combination..
Minister Gayantha Karunathilake reiterated that the present government has no intention of curtailing any relief given to the people and only this national government of consensus can solve the problems of the people.
