BUDGET "BLUES"

If nothing else, the just presented Budget for 2013 will definitely hasten our “race” to become the “Miracle of Asia” –what with reduced duties on Racing Cars – which for an ordinary man would sound like the least important thing for this country. Further with an increased allocation of 60 million rupees for the Tamasha called “Deyata Kirula” the extravaganza clearly seems to have been introduced as a Bonanza for the Presidential Off-springs whose main hobby seems to be conducting night races in all parts of the country wasting the resources such as electricity.


As usual there is absolutely no benefit provided in the budget for those who toil in various foreign countries and remit valuable foreign exchange which in turn is used extravagantly by all sorts of politicians and their hangers on – including the Royal Astrologer! – to import luxuries such as SUVs etc. racing around the country – even killing pedestrians.

The so called “housing loan” of a few hundred-thousands offered to “foreign workers” at 10% interest is, to say the least, a big sham and insult.

As far as the allocation for Education is concerned, the Minister of Higher Education is on record having said that the government has always allocated more than 5% of GDP for education but we can see from the Budget that the allocation is going to be increased to 4.1% of the GDP – so, undoubtedly, as usual the Minister has been “economical with the truth”!

Although nothing is mentioned in the Budget, the day is not far away when petrol and diesel prices will go up heaping further burdens on the already suffering populace.

It is a pity that the President as the Minister of Finance has not thought it fit to reduce the Jumbo cabinet and various luxurious perks associated with it, which would have helped in no small measure to reduce the gap and provide more benefits to the ordinary man on the street.

Whatever it is, with foreign liquor going out of the reach of ordinary citizens, it is hoped that locally tapped toddy will be available in plenty so that we can all be reminded of the very popular song of C.T. Fernando “ Maame, Mage Sudu Maame – Raa podiyak dee, Maa Sanasanne”.