New Finance Bills:

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Prof. G. L. Peiris, MP, recently questioned President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s move to introduce the Economic Transformation Bill and Public Financial Management Bill in the run-up to the presidential election later this year.

The dissident SLPP MP alleged that such laws weren’t introduced for the benefit of the country. Prof. Peiris declared that the genuine Opposition would oppose both Bills.

Alleging that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government was not sensitive to the developing economic-political and social crisis, the National List member from the Opposition vowed to make necessary interventions at the committee stage.

The former External Affairs Minister said so at Galle conference of Samagi Buddhi Mandapaya chaired by SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa over the last weekend. A group of dissident SLPP MPs switched allegiance to the SJB recently.

State Finance Minister Shehan Semasasinghe is on record as having said that the two Bills were meant to enhance management of public finances, thereby thwart future economic downturns. Addressing the media at the Presidential Media Centre on Monday (20), as the Acting Finance Minister Semasinghe declared that the two Bills would be submitted to parliament today (22).

Prof. Peiris told the Galle gathering SJB leader Premadasa was in the process of identifying key areas that needed attention subsequent to his victory at the forthcoming presidential election. “The requirements of districts and provinces can be different. Therefore, special attention needed to be paid for districts and provinces depending on their requirements.

Declaring that tourism remained a key factor not only for those living in the Galle district but the country as a whole, Prof. Peiris explained how the recent government bid to outsource issuance of visa on arrival could have had a detrimental impact on the national economy.

The former minister said that the SLT Mobitel charged USD 1 per person for issuance of visa. The current dispensation was so corrupt it outsourced that responsibility to another party that charged USD 25 per person.

Prof. Peiris said that tourism suffered in the aftermath of 2019 Easter Sunday carnage. The tourism sector further deteriorated during the Covid-19 crisis and the subsequent to economic fallout. The tourism was gradually but surely and steadily improving when the government introduced another racket for the benefit of unscrupulous elements.

With the presidential election just a couple of months away, the government was going ahead with all sorts of crooked deals meant for the benefit of the powers that be.

Prof. Peiris alleged that for want of a tangible action plan on the part of the government, the economy was in dire straits. Small and medium scale businesses had suffered badly and the government seemed to be blind to the woes of the business community.

The former minister said that the SJB leader was able to provide relief to the affected businesses by securing the ADB assistance.

On behalf of the SJB, Prof. Peiris assured that the new government would introduce a scheme to support those who newly entered the legal profession. Referring to a project implemented during the tenure of Romesh de Silva, PC, as the President of the Bar Association, Prof. Peiris said that a similar scheme would be initiated to assist new lawyers.

Referring to the landmark judgment against State Tourism Minister Diana Gamage and the loss of her parliametnaryseat, Prof. Peiris called for stringent action against a person who called unseating of the SJB MP a political conspiracy. He said they had committed contempt of court.

Contrary to government claims, the country was in an extremely difficult situation and those in power seemed to be wholly incapable of addressing the issues at hand, Prof. Peiris said.