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The UNP said yesterday that it would oppose the government’s 2009 budget, but not the vote on defence expenditure.
Vice President of the UNP, John Ameratunga MP, told The Island that his party would not vote against the funding sought by the government for defence purposes, since it was required to protect the territorial integrity of the country, but would oppose the budget as a whole.
"We took that decision for two reasons. Firstly the relief offered to the public is totally inadequate and not in keeping with the resources available to the government. Secondly, in the case of some proposals, the Appropriation Bill does not state the sources of funding or how the budget deficit would be bridged."
Asked if the UNP would vote for the defence budget, he said that the procedure to be adopted had not yet been discussed. Pressed on the exact stance the UNP would take, Ameratunga replied that his party would most likely abstain, when a vote was called.
"The UNP's alternative budget proposals show how the people could be given more relief, while developing the economy as well. The government does not want to accept our suggestions because it urgently needs money to meet the cost of maintaining a jumbo Cabinet, for foreign jaunts and also to revive Mihin Air, which suffered a Rs. 3 billion loss in just one year."
Ameratunga said that he too believed local industries should be developed, but it could not be done in the short term, because Sri Lanka did not have the required capital nor the technology for the purpose. "The budget proposal to develop agriculture, dairy farming and textile industries can be done only in the long term. But what do the large number of people who are leading a hand to mouth existence do in between? The taxes proposed on imported essentials would result in the cost of living rising further and the poor suffering masses will have no choice but to jump from the frying pan to the fire."
