By Shamindra Ferdinando

SLPP National List MP Gevindu Cumaratunga says the 2021 budget presented by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Finance Minister would be able to strengthen what he called village-based economy.

Lawmaker Cumaratunga says Sri Lanka needs to take tangible measures to bolster the local economy or face the consequences.

Referring to overwhelming electoral victories achieved by Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the 2019 presidential election followed by the SLPP securing unprecedented 2/3 parliamentary majority in spite of the PR system at the general election, Yuthukama Chief asserted that the 2021 budget would pave the way for overhauling of the national economy.

MP Cumaratunga told The Island that he had an opportunity on Saturday (21) to discuss in parliament how the budget could be the basis for a new economic model to check the ruination brought on by JRJ’s ‘open economic’ policy adopted in the wake of the UNP landslide victory at the 1977 general election.

At the onset of MP Cumaratunga’s speech, the civil society activist emphasized that the country was aware of who carried out the most assassinations of Tamil politicians and the high profile civilian rescue mission conducted by the armed forces in April-May 2009 where over 100,000 men, women and children held as human shields were saved.

Samagi Jana Balavegaya National List MP Mayantha Dissanayake who had been in the Speaker’s Chair intervened several times as Cumaratunga was repeatedly interrupted. When Cumaratunga complained, Dissanayake pointed out those who caused interruptions were members of the SLPP parliamentary group.

SLFP nominee Dr. Suren Raghavan (SLPP) interrupted Cumaratunga’s speech to allege how his efforts as the former Governor of the Northern Province to bring back 83,000 Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu were thwarted by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). On behalf of the TNA, its Vanni District lawmaker Selvam Addaikalanathan (TELO) hit back at Dr. Raghavan.

MP Cumaratunga alleged that President JRJ exploited the difficulties experienced by the people during 1970-77 Premier Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s administration to completely do away with the economic system followed not only by the SLFP led coalitions but the UNP as well. At the expense of the entire gamut of local industries, President JRJ adopted an economy primarily based on foreign loans and an import-export system. The introduction of the new system had far reaching consequences, the MP said, explaining how Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera in his ‘Abuddassa Yugayak’ discussed how the elected, foolishly responded to the then economic situation. Dr. Amarasekera highlighted the increase in the foreign debt amounting to Rs 10.5 bn in 1977 to Rs 6,402 bn by 2019.

Lawmaker Cumaratunga alleged that the treacherous Wickremesinghe-Mangala Samaraweera duo followed the JRJ strategy. Alleging they were the worst of the UNP lot, Cumaratunga said that yahapalana administration co-sponsored the Geneva Resolution against the Sri Lankan military and sought agreements with both New Delhi and Washington at the expense of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Reference was made to ACSA (Access and Cross-Servicing Agreement) and SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) though MCC (Millennium Challenge Corporation) was left out.

Their strategy was meant to transform the entire country to a refugee camp, MP Cumaratunga said. Massive SLPP victories at the last presidential and parliamentary polls had underscored the public determination to reverse UNP strategies. The electorate brought the UNP to its knees at the last general election, MP Cumaratunga said, while praising those who defeated the UNP machinations at introducing a new Constitution during the previous administration.

Lawmaker Cumaratunga called for a new Constitution that met the aspirations of a vast majority of people. The lawmaker emphasized along with such a Constitution, the country needed to adopt a new economic model that catered to the needs of the people.

Cumaratunga compared the crisis here and in various parts of the world and the catastrophe faced by the US. Referring to Al Qaeda attacks directed at the US, MP Cumaratunga explained that those who pushed for all out liberalization of economies were now exploring ways and means of bringing back investments home and thwarting terrorism as well as unauthorized crossings across borders.

The MP also discussed the pivotal role played by the Defence Ministry in the overall government projects with the focus on poverty alleviation. Large sums of funds allocated to the Defence Ministry should be considered vital investments for a better future.