Benefits from stimulus must trickle down to public: UNP

• Kiriella calls for price controls on rice
• Says efforts by Yahapalanaya to secure GSP+ should be taken forward by present Govt. 

The United National Party (UNP) yesterday urged the Government to ensure that the benefits from the stimulus package trickled down to the public. 

UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella yesterday challenged the Government to look at the change felt in the cost of living by the public, pointing out that the desired effect had not taken place even though the Government was losing revenue through the stimulus package.  

UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella

Kiriella charged that the cost of food items had not reduced as the public had expected and pointed out that the current cost of rice and vegetables was unbearable for the public.  

“When we were in power, we took on the large-scale rice mill owners and stabilised the market price of rice, but all of that has been dismantled now,” he argued.  

Commenting on remarks made by Government Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella regarding the conditions that frame the GSP plus tax incentive by the European Union, Kiriella pointed out that the Government should uphold the commitments made by the previous Government. 

“The EU has extended that GSP+ facility until 2023, which indicates that the Government must strictly adhere to the commitments made by the previous Government when obtaining the GSP plus. They can’t deviate from it. If they want to deviate from it, they must discuss the matter. They can’t do it unilaterally,” he opined. 

“We have to adhere to all international agreements we have signed, we can’t reject them unilaterally,” he added.

The GSP+ is dependent on the Government adhering to about 27 international laws and conventions, particularly on human rights, which have also been ratified by the European Union.