Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister and Homagama Development Committee Chairman Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana said that the economy of Sri Lanka has suffered a severe setback after independence due to non-payment of loans.
He added that the economy has reached the point where it could not be sustained.
The Minister was speaking at a distribution of rice among selected group of beneficiaries in the Homagama DS area in view of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year 2024 under the government programme of distributing rice to low-income families. The ceremony was held at the Homagama Divisional Secretariat premises.
Over 15,640 eligible families in the Homagama Divisional Secretariat area have been identified for this programme. One hundred beneficiary families out of them in the Katuwana and Homagama areas were given rice parcels of 10 kilos each.
“Throughout history, governments have provided schoolchildren with free education up to graduation. Medicines, surgeries and other health services have been provided free of charge. A huge amount of money is spent on providing season tickets for school students,” he said.
The Minister said that funds spent for the welfare of people are derived from the taxes levied on the people.
“People say that they eat only rice and vegetables, but in reality, people have to eat rice and vegetables along with taxes. That’s because taxes are included in every item consumed by the people at daily basis,” he said.
The Minister said that a huge amount of money is spent on paying government employee salaries and pensions from the tax revenue collected in this way. “As Samurdhi subsidies were not enough, relief subsidies have been increased several times and are being paid as Aswesuma allowances,” he added.
The Minister added that a large amount of money needs to be allocated for that. “Due to lack of sufficient income for all this, the government has to borrow. Interest must be paid on those loans. No government will get adequate revenue for that,” he said.
The Minister said that Sri Lanka is no longer receiving foreign loans due to non-payment of loans and all development activities carried out till now have been done through loans.
“The children of our country should also be taught about it. Roads, highways, buses, etc., all these facilities were obtained through loans,” he said.
Dr. Gunawardhana said that governance is a difficult task and it is not possible to do it by going to a school and making a donation. “The government is aware of the difficulties faced by the people due to the increase in the prices of goods. While programmes are being implemented with the International Monetary Fund, a programme is being implemented to take care of low-income earners. Under that, a certain amount of support is being given to provide a livelihood, from the money obtained from the tax-paying people. Free schooling is provided,” he said.
The Minister added that the facilities of schools should be improved. “It is only through that the children can be given the world that their parents have lost. A programme is systematically implemented with a formal plan for education, health, housing and other infrastructure. Everyone should contribute to a production process that works more to get the country out of this difficult situation,” he said.
