Leader of the National Peoples Power, Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the 2022 Budget does not propose plans to overcome the current economic crisis.
The MP said families are lining up to purchase essentials, while farmers have taken to the streets for fertiliser.
The MP recalled of a statement by the Minister of Trade claiming they will be unable to procure crude oil in future due to a scarcity of US dollars.
He recalled the Minister of Energy claiming that a consignment is held up at the port, owing to the inability to make payments.
The NPP Leader stressed Sri Lanka is on course to an economic crisis that the Budget has failed to avert.
MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake also applauded the Finance Minister’s decision to repossess Rs.8.5 billion from Perpetual Treasuries Pvt. Ltd. over the controversial Treasury bond transactions.
However, he said it was problematic how such action was not taken against assets owned by those named in the Pandora Papers.
He stressed activities of corrupt politicians must be nullified through more proposals that can be implemented through the Budget.
MP Dissanayake also accused the government of not including realistic figures in next year’s Budget.
He expressed dismay over including Rs.19 billion as import tax revenue, adding this year’s figure was at Rs.11.9 billion.
The NPP Leader questioned if the government hoped for miracles in expecting an exponential increase in revenue next year.
He added the Budget does not reflect solutions to short term public issues, or long term plans for the country while also publishing untrustworthy figures.
