SJB MP Marrikar flays Govt. over the timing of ’eyewash’ Rs. 229 b relief package

• Asks why the Government didn’t offer same relief in 2022 Budget, which was unveiled in November, if it was sincere in redressing people’s economic grievances and hardships
• Alleges delay meant prolonging people’s suffering
• Cites biggest demon is the forex crisis, and sans measures to boost foreign reserves and State revenue, the relief package via printed money will worsen plight of people and the country

Main Opposition SJB Parliamentarian S.M. Marikkar yesterday questioned why the Government let people suffer for months without offering a relief package at the time of the Budget 2022 presentation

SJB Parliamentarian  S.M. Marikkar

when it could have.

He said that Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, before unveiling the Budget 2022 in November last year, said that the Government's and the country's finances weren’t sound; hence, the Budget cannot offer anything, but the people have to give back in terms of tightening their belts given the pandemic.

However, SJB MP and Co-Media Spokesman said that even before a month has elapsed since the 2022 Budget was passed on 10 December, the Cabinet and Finance Minister have suddenly woken up from their slumber to unveil a Rs. 229 billion worth relief package.

"If the Government could do so today amidst continuing decline in State revenue, the question begs why this wasn’t given via the 2022 Budget in November," Marikkar queried during a briefing to the media. 

He alleged that the timing of the relief package implies the Government was eyeing Provincial Council elections.

The SJB MP opined that the country's core crisis was the foreign exchange shortage and depleting foreign reserves. 

“However, without addressing that successfully, the Government is hoodwinking people with the unaffordable Rs. 229 billion relief package. It means the Government will resort to the inflation fuelling dangerous course of more money printing like it did in 2021,” said Marrikar.

He said food inflation had risen to an all-time high level of 22% in December. He argued that stimulus via money printing will further fuel the rise in inflation, thereby negating any intended relief for the people. He said people were already facing severe hardships with double hikes in fuel, milk powder, cement, bakery products, increase in LPG, and exorbitant price of vegetables and other essential items.

He said that removing taxes and levies on essential items and drugs wouldn’t mean those will become cheaper and freely available because the country doesn’t have foreign exchange to import.

"So, without explaining how foreign reserves will be boosted or government revenue will be enhanced, unveiling a relief package funded by inflationary money printing will only lead people and the country to more misery," Marikkar claimed.

He also opined that Rs. 5,000 per month allowance wasn’t enough given the skyrocketing prices, and a more sincere strategy would have been listing measures to boost reserves and Government income, and thereby give a higher allowance. Even the claims of foreign reserves and Government income improving could only be proven if the allowance is increased.

He urged the people to show their protest against the insult to their grievances and hardships by voting this Government out of office.

He also alleged that the Government's selling spree of national assets to foreigners continues unabated. The latest was the Trinco oil tanks to India, Yugadanawi power plant to the US, and land to the Chinese, he claimed.