Hashim says govt. has not lived up to people’s expectations

By Saman Indrajith

SJB MP Kabir Hashim told Parliament yesterday that the government had failed to live up to the expectations of the public.

Participating in the debate on the 2020 Appropriation Bill in Parliament, MP Hashim said: “Since Independence Sri Lanka has witnessed for the first time two Appropriation Bills being presented to the House in one year, for 2020 and 2021. In 2019 November, the new President was elected and a Cabinet appointed. Even with that power, the government failed to present a budget.

During the most trying times like the war, JVP uprising, the budget was presented. About 300 days have gone by, but what has this government done? Now, the people say the President has failed contrary to the earlier claims that he was a hero. Why the people say so are very obvious.

“No one can allow the government to borrow except this House and the Prime Minister is responsible for all government spending. Who borrowed in the middle of last year months without an account, and how much? We did not approve it. Who approved the borrowings?”

MP Hashim said that people had pawned jewellery to the tune of Rs. 643 billion during the last few months.