President himself in his capacity as Minister of Finance presented the budget for the current year in Parliament last week. Normally, when budget proposals are placed in Parliament, there are great hopes. But, this time such a speculation was absent.

This budget failed to satisfy the ordinary man who looks for economic relief. The prices are increasing and the cost of living is also rising. This makes life unbearable to the poor man.

Before spelling out the budget proposals, President Rajapakse in his address on the floor of the House appealed to the people of Sri Lanka to make sacrifices to ensure a better future. He emphasized that the national security cannot be compromised under any circumstances and that the majority community is prepared to make any sacrifices for the sake of the country.

In the present budget, the expenditure for defense is increased by 45%. Political analysts describe this budget as a war time budget.

Vimal Weerawensa, JVP propaganda secretary has charged that this budget is devoid of any measures to bring the cost of living under control. He has also accused that the budget does not contain any proposals to improve the quality of life of the security forces that make great sacrifices for the country.

Meanwhile, the major opposition party, UNP, blamed the government for the failure to put forward proposals for the welfare of the common man. John Amaratunga, UNP Parliamentarian, has stated that they could not see the rosy picture of Mahinda Chinthana in the budget and pointed out that the tourist arrivals in the country have declined very badly and that due to the escalation of violence in the country the foreign aid is shrinking.

It is the general opinion of the Tamil people that although money has been allocated for the Northern and eastern provinces separately, no relief measures are announced for the affected people.

In the meantime, President had announced that the government is committed to solve the ethnic problem through negotiations and has invited the LTTE for talks. On the other hand, S.P.Thamilselvan, LTTE Political Wing Leader, has told Paul Murphy, the special envoy of the British Prime Minister that the LTTE is prepared for talks and that the current budget presented by the President himself is indicative that the government is inclined towards war not peace.

The general impression is that the proposals can be effective only if peace is enforced.

An English translation of the Editorial in Virakesari, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo

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