‘Sarath Beethiya’ (fear of Sarath) has engulfed the government and it was now in a confused state, not knowing if Presidential or Parliamentary elections should be held first, the UNP said yesterday.

General Secretary of the UNP Tissa Attanayake told a news conference in Colombo, that the government has muddled up everything and was now living in fear of General Sarath Fonseka, who was tipped to challenge President Mahinda Rajapaksa, at the next Presidential Poll.

The reduction in the prices of 10 essential items was a mere election gimmick. No sooner the polls are over, there would be massive price hikes, far exceeding the amounts that had been reduced, he said.

"The government has promised the IMF that the 2010 budget deficit would be kept at 6% of the GDP, State expenditure reduced by two thirds, there would be no public sector salary increases, loans will not be taken from private banks, the Cabinet pruned down to 35 and the number of vehicles allocated to Ministers reduced to three," Attanayake said. "It is not possible to follow IMF directives and also provide subsidies. President Rajapaksa is lying when he says that salaries of public servants will be increased. Temporary reductions in the prices of consumer items, are an attempt to fool the people into voting for the UPFA again."

He said that for the masses to obtain "Bandula’s Parrippu" (Dhal), they would have to visit the Co-op City, but the bus fare would far exceed the price reduction that has been announced.