Budget 2023: mixed reactions

Jathika Jana Balavegaya (JJB) MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya yesterday (14) said that the maiden Budget presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Finance Minister didn’t address the daunting challenges faced by the country in the wake of unprecedented post-independence economic crisis.

Dr. Amarasuriya asserted that President Wickremesinghe had failed to respond to the growing political-economic-social crisis. The JJB parliamentary group, affiliated to the JVP, consists of three lawmakers.

Former Minister and ex-General Secretary of the Communist Party DEW Gunasekera said that he was thoroughly disappointed and quite surprised.

The veteran politician said that the UNP leader, in his capacity as the Finance Minister, should have used the opportunity to analyze, discuss and recommend remedial measures against the backdrop of the world economic crisis. The Communist Party is represented in Parliament by Matara District MP Weerasumana Weerasinghe.

Unfortunately, no serious effort had been made at all to redirect the bankrupt country towards the correct path, Gunasekera, a one-time Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), said.

He said that the public should keep in mind that Wickremesinghe was elected President in late July this year to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s 5-year term. The former MP stressed that the Budget proposals didn’t meet the expectations of those who really comprehended the developing crisis.

The outspoken Marxist politician said that the worst problem was nothing but the refusal of those in the government and the Opposition to acknowledge the crisis the country was in.

Chief Government Whip and Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, in a statement issued yesterday, however, praised the Budget. The Gampaha District SLPP strongman declared that Budget proposals meant to rebuild the country, hence the decision to adopt a new approach.

Minister Ranatunga said: “This Budget was presented under extremely difficult conditions. The proposals were based on discussions the government had with the International Monetary Fund and other lending agencies.” According to him, the public weren’t further burdened and necessary steps taken to consolidate the economy. Ranatunga represents the SLPP, the largest party in Parliament that backed Wickremesinghe at the presidential contest on July 20

Dismissing Opposition criticism of the 2023 Budget proposals as irrelevant, lawmaker Ranatunga said that the government required public support to overcome the current crisis.

SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said that as he would open the debate on the Budget on Tuesday (15) he wouldn’t comment. (SF)