Sri Lanka It's Happening

November 9, 2005

The budget (or the attempt by politicians to empty the treasury at an ever increasing rate) was read out in parliament yesterday.

As usuall with UPFA budgets there isn't anything of substance in it. That hasn't prevented some businessmen praising it to high heaven. These businessmen are trying to land lucrative government contracts. They would be the last to comply with any increased taxes (they cook their books too).

Before the budget the opposition UNP was agitating against it claiming it would be nothing but a seiries of hand outs. It is. The UNP was worried sick thinking that it would be tied to the JVP presidential candidate's (Mahinda's) manifesto. Mahinda played his part well, making comments that no doubt increased the blood pressure of many a UNP stalwart.

All that can now be forgotten, The handouts given by the finance minister have no relation what so ever to the handouts promised by Mahinda. The finanance minister is giving different handouts to what have been proposed in the election manifesto.

If anyone with a single digit IQ (that is most of the countries population) had any hopes that the election promises will be fullfilled, now is the time to dispell them. However Sri Lankans being what they are they will still happily vote for Mahinda (or Ranil for that matter if the tables had been turned) knowing fully well that the election promises will not be fullfilled.

Posted by raditha at November 9, 2005 10:10 PM