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Opposing the interim budget, the leader of the Tamil People’s National Front, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, questioned why Sri Lanka’s military was not being downsized.
“When talking about restructuring, there was no discussion about restructuring of the military. The military structure is so big that in the budget – 19 percent of the budget last time” he told parliament. Funding for education and health combined fell below 10 percent in the last budget.
Ponnambalam reminds parliament that the increased funding for the military in this budget comes at a time when the value of the rupee has plummeted, and Sri Lanka faces no enemy. The money should have gone to the general public, he maintains.
“This budget and the government policies in general at no point will look at the concerns of the people in the North and East”, he stressed.
“They require the military in some way to survive politically. And if they are to save politically, they need the military to stifle democracy in the South, because that is the only way they can sustain their rule”.
Ponnambalam was one of five members of parliament who opposed the interim budget. In his opposition, he noted:
“Our view is that this interim budget fails miserably. It fails because this government, particularly the president needs the military. The government does not have public support. In fact, they need this government to go home. They want another mandate and an election.” he said.
It is through the sustained support for the military that “the North and East going to be the target through this”.
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