“Ranil should present facts to parliament without sending small fry to defend him”
“Some individuals were hurt When the JVP presented facts regarding the supplementary estimate. When the supplementary estimate was presented to parliament Comrade Anura Dissanayaka revealed a lot of facts regarding it. When the Prime Minister is questioned he, without answering the issues, attempts to get small fry to respond. We ask Ranil to give a comprehensive answer in Parliament without sending small fry to face the tune. Is Harin Fernando trying to justify spending Rs.600 million for two security vehicles for Ranil Wickremesinghe because he has received a benefit of Rs.4.2 million? Harin Fernando says despite allocating Rs.594 million for the two vehicles, most of it is tax. However, Rs.594 million has to be allocated by the Treasury. Getting the tax income for the government is not an excuse. This cannot be calculated in that manner. Hence, we tell Mr. Wickremesinghe to present facts in Parliament without sending small fry shopping,” said the Member of the Central Committee of the JVP Wasantha Samarasinghe at a press conference held at the head office of the JVP at Pelawatta yesterday (15th). The Member of the Political Bureau of the JVP K.D. Lal Kantha also participated.
Mr. Lal Kantha addressing the press conference said, “A fundamental political issue has come up regarding the Governor of the Central Bank. Frauds and corruption regarding Central Bank bonds had become major issues earlier as well. A dialogue developed in the society that Central Bank bonds were a large scale theft of the government. Ranil Wickremesinghe was known as ‘Mr. Clean’ with the belief that he did not steal. However, there is a wide dialogue in the country regarding large scale stealing of Mr. Wickremesinghe’s Central Bank Governor and the government. Despite people saying that Ranil Wickremesinghe doesn’t steal, his henchmen stole and sold even the zinc sheets that were to be distributed among the poor during his previous government. There frauds and corruption. No steps were taken against them. He didn’t take any step regarding the Governor of the Central Bank as well.
A general election was called when newspapers reported about the Central Bank bond fraud and when political parties started criticizing. At that time President Maithripala Sirisena making a public statement asked the Prime Minister to remove the Governor of Central Bank. However, this was not implemented. Central Bank Governors term is scheduled to end in June. Now Mr. Maithripala Sirisena who talked about removing the Governor of Central Bank could not extend his term, remove him from the post and appoint a suitable person for the post. For appointing the Governor of Central Bank is a prerogative of the President. The masses can now witness whether the President is genuinely interested in stopping frauds, corruption and theft. We say that the term of the Governor of the Central Bank should not be extended. This should be done on behalf of the masses, who voted for this government on 8th January, 2015. We ask the President to appoint an efficient official for the post.
At present people have several issues regarding the moves of the President and the Prime Minister. When VAT was levied President Sirisena said he wouldn’t allow taxes to be levied that would oppress the ordinary folk. He said economists who did not understand the feelings and needs of the people would be sent home. He also said he was against the decision to increase VAT. At this the SLFP group in the government accused Ranil and the UNP group of burdening the people with taxes and they would struggle in the government to get concessions for the people. SLFP MPs reiterated that they are in the government to carry out such progressive moves.
By now President Sirisena is like a cat that has discharged faces on a rock and unable to cover it up has smeared the whole body with the excrement. How could President Sirisena say people would not be burdened with taxes if the price of people’s packet of rice has gone up? Had the price of wheat flour only had gone up President Sirisenea and the SLFP clique could have told that wheat flour is a food of imperialists and increasing the price of wheat flour is a progressive act and could have asked the people to eat rice only. The clique with Mahinda told us the same story. What could Maithri say when the price of the packet or rice had gone up?
A massive tax has been imposed on goods people continuously use. What does the so-called progressive clique of the SLFP that stated they would take the side of the people against the UNP say now? Mahinda Samarasinghe says the increase in taxes is only for a short period. The Secretary General of UPFA Mahinda Amaraweera says a government cannot exist without taxing. A situation has come up so that these ministers too cannot support President’s statement. The Governor of the Central Bank says they would implement the tax policy of the government and earn an income for the government. Now the governor of the Central Bank should tell us whether the heavy taxes are levied to recover the large sums that were defrauded from the people. The Central Bank was severely affected due to the large scale bond fraud.
The Prime Minister should explain to the country how an economic crisis that did not exist when the budget was presented in November suddenly surfaced now. What is the economic change that has taken place within these 3 or 4 months? Only frauds, corruption and thefts of this government have occurred. If Rajapaksas were the cause of the destruction of the economy, couldn’t the government find it by November last year? Hence, the government should explain what economic change had taken place within the last 3 to 4 months. The Ministers of this government too have begun to indulge in luxuries. There are a number of ministers that would beat the numbers Rajapaksa had in his cabinet. The burden of this massive cabinet too has fallen on the people. Sarath Fonseka, who was appointed a minister recently, says if VIPs do not have luxury vehicles and facilities leaders in other country would think that this country is a country of beggars. Sarath Fonseka getting a ministerial post became a burden for the people. Sarath Fonseka thinks this is not a ‘begging’ country. Many ministers are still not aware that this is a ‘begging’ country. State employees’ salaries cannot be paid. Fertilizer subsidy cannot be given. Countries are visited to beg money. Isn’t this a ‘begging’ country?
The country is denied people’s money due to frauds such as the Central Bank fiasco and wasteful spending of the government. Mahinda Rajapaksa was sent to Uganda with money from the Treasury. How could money spent in such a manner for Mahinda Rajapaksa who is an ex President? Do the people who voted for this government approve such acts? A Parliamentarian from the North takes a vehicle from the Port without paying custom duty. The taxes were increased to burden the people to recover money lost due to these frauds and corruption. Ranil and Maithri meet at night to take decisions. These decisions are told to the country through UNP Parliamentarians. When there is protest from the people the President opens his mouth. President Maithripala Sirisena does a play act to quell the opposition.
The JVP will carry out a leaflet distribution campaign against the tax increases. A massive agitation will be held in Colombo on the 26th. The President, the Prime Minister and the Governor of Central Bank are at the helm of these issues. The term of the Governor of Central Bank who is infamous for frauds cannot be allowed to be extended. We oppose these fraudsters and those who protect them. Currently, a massive opposition is aimed at the government by civil organizations. Certain activists of civil organizations attempt to divert the opposition towards another direction. The issue of the FCID is emphasized. We clearly say there is no issue regarding the FCID or the CID. These institutions have completed investigations regarding large scale frauds and other crimes. Now the question is Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Maithripala Sirisena. Certain parties attempt to divert the accusations against the Prime Minister and the President towards the FCID. Ranil – Maithri administration is responsible for all these issues. The country is not moving towards a righteous direction. The media and political parties have got a certain freedom due to the defeat of the previous regime. However, when other affairs are compared this government is worst that the previous one. We emphasize that all progressive masses should rally to defeat the present programme of the government to establish a people’s administration in the country.”
The Member of the Central Committee of the JVP Wasantha Samarasinghe addressing the media said, “We have received reports that there is a plan to extend the term of the Governor of the Central Bank that is due to expire in June. The interest rate in the revenue market increased due to the moves of this governor. Initially, tenders were called for 1000 Central Bank bonds but 10,000 were issued. As a result the interest the Central Bank had to pay increased from 9.5% to 12.5%. Accordingly, the interest rate in the debt market increased. Several more millions had to be added for US$3.4 billion, the debt interest instalment the government had to pay. The Governor of the Central Bank carried out another bond racket and the government had to increase the VAT to recover the loss due to these rackets.
A person paying a fee of Rs.6450 after getting treatment from a private hospital will have to pay a VAT of Rs.967.50. The consumer who buys two loaves of bread will have to pay a VAT of Rs. 18.78. A retail trader who gets a turnout of Rs.25,000 will have to pay VAT. All who visit the baker y, the tea kiosk, koththu shop the pharmacy will have to pay VAT.
The government levies taxes to maintain luxury lives of ministers. Today, a campaign is being carried out that includes even ‘Face book’ to find Rs.200 million to buy a PET scan machine for the cancer hospital at Maharagama. In such a country the Prime Minister allocates Rs.600 million to buy luxury vehicles. Do people have to pay for the luxuries ministers of this government enjoy? Due to the manipulations of the company owned by the son in law of the Governor of the Central Bank the EPF suffers big losses. The government that indulges in such rackets impose taxes on masses and attempts to justify their moves. The ministers who justify such acts are compensated. These ministers gang up with thieves to burden the masses.
Some individuals were hurt When the JVP presented facts regarding the supplementary estimate. When the supplementary estimate was presented to parliament Comrade Anura Dissanayaka revealed a lot of facts regarding it. When the Prime Minister is questioned he, without answering the issues, attempts to get small fry to respond. We ask Ranil to give a comprehensive answer in Parliament without sending small fry to face the tune. Is Harin Fernando trying to justify spending Rs.600 million for two security vehicles for Ranil Wickremesinghe because he has received a benefit of Rs.4.2 million? Harin Fernando says despite allocating Rs.594 million for the two vehicles, most of it is tax. However, Rs.594 million has to be allocated by the Treasury. Getting the tax income for the government is not an excuse. This cannot be calculated in that manner. Hence, we tell Mr. Wickremesinghe to present facts in Parliament without sending small fry shopping.”
