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| Friday, 22 October 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| A funny agitation The UPFA media unit in a press release issued yesterday said people had the opportunity of witnessing a funny agitation launched by the UNP on Tuesday with some people singing and dancing in a state of intoxication to celebrate the increase in the cost of living. The UNP had staged this campaign in Colombo to pressurise the government to bring down the COL, fulfil election pledges and provide job opportunities. This humorous agitation proved that the increase in the COL had offered an opportunity for the UNP to launch a protest by singing and dancing after liquor. The release signed by UPFA joint media spokesman Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa said it is not strange to see the UNP in its frenzy being pushed towards such type of agitation in the face of the governments policies of guiding the country on a correct path during 6 months of assuming office. When one looked at the manner former UNP Ministers fattened themselves on the national wealth during the last 2 years and 3 months this type of agitation would be a good physical exercise for them rather than of any benefit to the people. The greatest challenge faced by the UPFA government was the exalation of the international fuel prices beyond unexpected levels. When compared to the fuel prices which existed at the assumption of office of the UPFA government prices have increased almost by 100 per cent today. When the price of fuel increased in the international market increased the prices of food items imported increased in the country of origin itself. Its immediate impact locally could not be prevented at once in a country which is used to import a major part of its food items on the other hand increase in transport costs also caused an increase in the price of goods. Although the price of wheat flour had increased by 23 per cent in the world market during the last few months the government had been able to prevent a price increase locally. When price of sugar increased by more than 16 per cent in the world market, the UPFA took steps to lighten its burden on the people by exempting such items from VAT. Although fuel prices have increased the government had not removed its fuel subsidy. While the government continued the fuel subsidy people have been forced to bear a part of the increased fuel prices the government was aware that the people could not afford to bear this burden in the context of their present income levels. It is as a part of the governments war to minimise the cost of living burden on the common masses that it has planned to grant a considerable salary increase to public servants in the next Budget and increase agricultural production through the completion of the 10000 tanks project. The release further said that the UPFA government had done no wrong to the country and its people. That was why it amended the UNP's land act which facilitated land sales to foreigners and took steps to protect the land rights of the indigenous people. In place of UNP's policy of freezing vacancies in the public sector the UPFA government had started to provide employment to all unemployed graduates to uplift the nation. It is not the government policy to dilute the public sector at the behest of foreign monetary institutions. The 10,000 tanks project had been launched under frugal expenditure in order to increase agricultural production and minimise expenditure on food imports. The government was launching a development war on October 22 with the objective of accelerating rural development in order to ensure the fruits of development in their areas to the indigenous people. The NIC was made compulsory for voting in order to strengthen the rights of the voting public. The State media had been infused with an indigenous cultural rhythm in order to create a patriotic society. Therefore all policies adopted and decisions taken by the UPFA government had been positive policies and decisions taken in the interests of the people. It is for this very reason that the UNP had got much excited today. The government's people-friendly march would be further strengthened with the next Budget. Possibly the UNP too was aware of it. The UNP which insulted the people's verdict by saying that the Government was without a majority in Parliament had now lost that slogan. The joint opposition was now in pieces. An internal revolt had started within the UNP against Ranil Wickremesinghe's leadership of what he was a leader who could not hold on to governmental power for more than 2 years and 3 months was the question raised by some groups in the UNP. Roofing sheet and rice robbers, and people who squandered Samurdhi funds and ruined the CWE were now falling into the legal net. This too had driven a sense of fear into the minds of UNP leaders. The UNP instead of seeking expert advice to cure its ills was now trying to stage 'Naga Salang' dramas on the streets for the amusement of the public. But the UNP would lose that opportunity too once the UPFA presented its Budget. |
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