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Saturday, 30 November 2013 08:26 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
values of the Budget that needs to be carried inside the traditional wooden case with seals.
Appreciating the Government move to increase the allocation for health sector the UNP legislator said that the Opposition suspects it to be another trick played to get funds from the World Bank, which pumps in $ 200 million.
“This is the second health sector development program jointly conducted with Ministry of Health. According to the project proposal the World Bank in consultation with the Ministry is conducting a private health sector review to better understand the private health sector and thus support the Government in creating the basis for dialogue and potential collaboration.
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This is a very dangerous project which opens up the option to fully privatise the health sector,” he said.
Hashim slammed the UPFA’s 2014 budget for allocating Rs. 1.5 trillion for state expenses, of which Rs. 676 billion is allocated for the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Ministry of Economic development, Ministry of Ports and Highways, and the President.
“There are 10 senior ministers, 54 cabinet ministers, 38 deputy ministers, two project ministers, and of course a Prime Minister. So, these 101 are left with Rs. 866 billion or 56% of the total allocation,” he charged.
Hashim said that developing infrastructure alone will not help to develop and economy. “You need to develop the human and social factors,” he added.
The UNP MP also questioned the Government’s commitment to the country’s war heroes.
“What have you provided the war heroes? They are now used to ready the race tracks for the forthcoming night races. According to Mahinda Chinthana all partially and fully disabled veterans, Police and Civil Defence personnel are promised salaries till death. The Government has stopped their salaries and offers a pension despite the heavy allocations made from the budget,” he charged.
Hashim accused someone in the Government of having earned a fat commission off cows imported by provision made in the previous year’s budget to increase milk production in the country.
“Last year, the landed cost per cow came to Rs. 250,000. But in the Government books the cost stands at Rs. 700,000. This is not a super cow but a happy cow for somebody who earned a massive commission from it,” Hashim alleged.
He said that the Mahinda Rajapaksa government was continuing the privatisation of state farms after President Chandrika Kumaratunga sold two NLDB farms to business tycoon Harry Jayawardane.
“This Government claims that privatisation is discontinued under Mahinda Rajapaksa. In 2009 Mutuwella and Siddapura farms which belonged to the Mahaweli Authority was sold to Sohli Captain. Adding more to this list you recently sold another farm in Kilinochchi,” disclosed MP Hashim.
