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Sirisena-government ignored Tamils in budget - TNA MP

The TNA spokesperson Suresh Premachandran charged that the new government, under President Maithripala Sirisena, has ignored Tamil concerns in the latest interim budget,  saying it was a continuation of the policy of every previous government, reported the Uthayan.

The MP said the budget was populist and designed to address immediate concerns, with a view on the parliamentary election, to be held some time later this year.

"Gas, petrol prices have been reduced, therefore this is a budget to make the ordinary people happy. However, I represent Tamil people’s concerns and thousands of Tamil people needs to be resettled, but no proposals with regards to them have been cited in this budget', he said.

'Similarly, there is no mention of the budget allocation or proposals for those that are waiting to be resettled. [...] Every government forgets [about Tamils] in some way, this is what can be observed. Even in this budget, they forgot about the minimum [requirement of] resettlement for the Tamil people." Mr Premachandrn said.

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