It Is Only A Pretence - No Economic Development By The Government – Mr Tilvin Silva

The Government is just doing nothing although it has appointed Ministers for Economic Development. They have only centralized the power around the family. There is no economic growth shown within the country with the activities in the past but the economy has dropped instead. The loan instalments are increasing gradually. In addition the Government is taking loans further and spend them on unimportant things.

Our main export income is originated from tea. The production in 2008 was 318 million kilograms which has come down to 289 million kilograms in 2009.   It is comparatively a decrease of 9.1% with the previous year. 

Similarly the coconut production also has decreased. In 2008 the coconut production was 2909 million nuts while it was 2762 million nuts in 2009. 

The reduction in paddy cultivation has resulted a big drop in paddy harvest. The total cultivation lands of paddy in 2008 was 10,53,000 hectares which has come down to 9,78,000 in 2009. The result was the huge drop in harvest of paddy in 2009 which indicated as 36,52,000 metric tons compared to the 38,75,000 metric tons harvest in 2008.

An increase in imports between 2005 – 2008 indicates as follows –

Rice       in 2005 was 76,000 metric tons    In 2008 increased up to 1,24,000 metric tons.

Potatoes in 2005 was 41,000 metric tons.   In 2008 increased up to 99,000 metric tons.

Onions   in 2005 was 1,21,000 metric tons. In 2008 increased up to 1,74,000 metric tons.

Sugar     in 2005 was 4,44,000 metric tons. In 2008 increased up to 5,63,000 metric tons.

Fish       in 2005 was 4,000 metric tons. In 2008 it has increased up to 9,000 metric tons.

Thus it is obvious the whole development process of the Government is only a pretence. The total public debt in 2008 was Rs 3529 billion while it is indicated as Rs 4161.4 billion which  is an increase of 16%. 

Similarly the total loans as a percentage of the GDP was 81.4% in 2008 which increased up to 86.2% in 2009.

The total foreign loans as a percentageof GDP has increased from37.1 % in 2008 up to 44% in 2009. The total income of the Government last year was Rs 72,856 billion while the Government had to pay Rs 82,568 billion as the interest on loans with loan instalments. Thus it is obvious that the interest and loan instalment repayments was more than the income of the Government.

The Government has deceived the public by reducing the tax on vehicles. It is only for self- benefit instead of providing the benefits to the public. If the Government was really interested it should have reduced the nation building tax and it should have prepared a factual development programme when appointing the Ministers. The reality is that they are concerned only  centralizing the power within the family.