by Sunil Kahagalla
Now I’m going to provide you with a brief explanation of the present political situation of Sri Lanka. Inauguration of president Mahinda Rajapaksha’s second term in office, appointing a new cabinet and presenting the budget proposals were the important incidents took place recently. Cabinet is now consisting of 61 ministers and together with deputy ministers, the total number exceeds 120.
In order to cover the expenses needed to maintain such a huge cabinet and the wastage including corruption, the government has increased the taxes on essential food items. As a result, the price of one kilogram of sugar has gone up from Rs. 80/- to 110/- and Bombay onions from Rs. 90/- to 180/-.
A number of intellectuals have pointed out that the budget has not emphasized on the production aspects of the economy such as agriculture, industries and fisheries except the field of services such as tourism.
According to the budget, expenditure for defense is Rs. 214000.00 millions while Rs.75000 million for economic development. Compared to previous beget, defense expenses have exceeded by Rs. 14000 million. Amount allocated for education is Rs. 31000 million (2.1%) while Rs. 75000 million ( 3.3%) for the health . What should be especially mentioned here is that such a huge amount has been allocated for defense after one and half year has been gone since the end of war. Budget deficit now is Rs. 450000 million. Apart from huge defense expenditure increases the government is still maintaining the Prevention of Terrorism Act as well as emergency regulations and it is no doubt that there factors open the way for state repressions.
Although the government had promised to increase the salaries of government employees by Rs 2500, according to the budget, only 5% has been increased. Accordingly, increment of a government employee whose salary is Rs. 20000 is only Rs. 1000. But, the payment for the monthly telephone bill of a MP has been increased up to Rs. 45000. Electricity bills of consumers who exceed 90 units have been increased by 8%. This increase has been done after the electricity generated by Norochchole coal power station is been added to the power generation system .
By now, General Sarath Fonseka, the former army commander , who had contested against Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksha in the previous presidential election has been given two year sentence of imprisonment with rigorous work by the Court Marshall. He has lost his parliament seat also. The validity of the judgment has been criticized by a number of parties. They accuse the government as and act of revenge against a political opponent. There were some agitations with in the country against this judgment.
Lesson Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) appointed by the president to inquire in to catastrophes of war time has met in various pleases including the North and the East provinces and taken testimonials from various individuals. So many women have made complaints in to this commission saying that although they had given over their children , husbands, brothers etc. to the army, they are not available at any detention camp now. Although, they had entered in to those campus with photographs of those family members to find them out, they have become hopeless according to their testimonials .This commission has been criticized by so many parties as and attempt by the government to divert the attention of the inter national community towards another direction. It seems that the 13th amendment which had brought forward as a solution to the ethnic problems has become feeble now. According to a number of groups who have traveled recently in North East provinces, the situation of the people who had left the camp to be resettled in villages is very tragic. They have to go through severe difficulties under the conditions of torrential monsoon rains. They have to spend the life under temporary tents, trees and damaged buildings.
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