Govt now in a debt trap of their own making – Mahinda
Posted on September 15th, 2016
Courtesy Adaderana
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says that having postponed elections, the government has been engaged in an effort to show that they still have public support by transporting people to political meetings so as to claim that they too have crowds just like the Joint Opposition.
This is the first time that I have seen a government competing with the opposition in this manner.”
The way I assessed public sentiment was by holding elections. But the present government is trying to avoid holding elections at any cost,” he said, delivering at the Battaramulla office of the Joint Opposition today (15).
Slamming the incumbent government over its economic policies, Rajapaksa said he was able to allocate sufficient funds to win the war that was thought to be unwinnable.
The ex-President said he was able to ensure the territorial integrity of the country, to develop the economy and also to provide the people with many welfare measures all at the same time. Yet at the same time we kept reducing the level of indebtedness of the country year by year, he said.
Many analysts have described this as an economic miracle,” he claimed.
September 15, 2016 04:46 pm
To say that this country was facing a debt crisis by the end of 2014 is a barefaced lie, Rajapaksa said.
He said that all the economic problems of the yahapalana government are due to the fact that they bribed” voters with salary increases and price reductions in order to win the 2015 August parliamentary elections.
They thought only of winning the elections, not about how they would manage the country after winning, he charged. According to the Kurunegala District MP, this election related largesse set off a chain reaction which began with the loss of control over government expenditure, and an increase in the budget deficit.
Even though this government claims that they have won over the whole world, no foreign investment is coming in.”
The only worthwhile investment taking place even now are the infrastructure projects that my government initiated, he said.
Experts predict that our debt to GDP ratio will increase to 82% by the end of this year, he said, adding, that it was only 70% when he left office. The government is now in a debt trap of their own making.”
He said that now the government is trying to increase taxes on the people to repay the money they borrowed since coming into power and that they have given an undertaking to the IMF that they would do so.
However when they try to implement these pledges given to the lending agencies, the business community, the ordinary public and the trade unions rise up in revolt, Rajapaksa says.
However the proposal to increase VAT has not yet been shelved. Cabinet has now approved a new VAT Bill to be submitted to parliament. We have to remain vigilant.”
He also said that the part of the SLFP that is in the government will not be able to escape blame for the failings and the misdeeds of the government they serve in.
Trying to portray themselves as anti-UNP while serving with the UNP in the same government, will not deceive the people any more, the former President said.
We in the Joint Opposition are opposed to this hybrid government,” he said, adding that they have no journey to make clinging on to the tail of the elephant.”
Many people have asked me whether a new political party is going to be formed to contest the next election. A political party is only a legal framework. The most important factor is that there is a political formation opposing the government,” he added.
– See more at: http://adaderana.lk/news/36967/govt-now-in-a-debt-trap-of-their-own-making-mahinda#sthash.5eaAjNe0.dpuf
September 15th, 2016 at 9:56 pm
Good speech.
However, debt as a percentage of GDP is not a good yardstick. It works for local borrowings but it doesn’t work for foreign borrowings. Foreign debt over exports is a better yardstick.
September 16th, 2016 at 1:05 pm
Our thanks to Pres MR for showing up the slips by Yahap.
The lack of TRUST the People of Lanka have in the Yahap govt is a strong measurement to show up their FAILURE ! What with ETCA, sea tunnel to Tamil Nadu, 5000 acre lots on lease to foreigners, a New Constitution etc. in the pipelines, who can trust them ?
The TWO Central Bank Bond scams were the starting points for the lack of TRUST. Many more events to prove their untrustworthiness followed/follow.
The one good directive from Yahap was the banning of Glyphosate but that too seems to be toppled.
Yahap is laughing at the People of Lanka !
Lack of self respect for themselves and lack of respect for the People of Sri Lanka showing up with Yahap folk.
September 16th, 2016 at 4:30 pm
Jayawewa, Mr President Mahinda Rajapaksa!
The TIME HAS COME to FORM A NEW PARTY …. the Deshapremi SLFP …. for you to AGAIN RESCUE Our Motherland from the gathering host of our enemies!
There is not a moment to lose!
We are with you, forever, despite all that the enemies of Sri Lanka say!
Api Rata Rakimu! Rata Hadamu! Rata Nanwamu!
Jayawewa!
September 16th, 2016 at 5:06 pm
Yes, may it be a long and strong Jayawewa for Sri Lanka’s Patriotic leaders !
September 20th, 2016 at 10:26 am
Great Man! I am a big fan of him. Even though obviously he is not perfect. But he brought peace to Sri Lanka for this he deserves the highest accolades. Hopefully he will be back where he should be, being the President of Sri Lanka and carry on the good work he did in his first 2 terms in office. I wish him all the best.