JVP TU asks govt. to stop wasting money on Independence Day celebrations

The Inter Company Employees Union affiliated to the JVP has urged the government to stop wasting public funds on the Independence Day celebrations.

Addressing the media in Colombo on Saturday, ICEU President Wasantha Samarasinghe said: “Rs 1.8 million has been allocated for singing the national anthem. The cost of a garland that the President is to put on the DS Senanayake statue costs Rs 97,000.

The government is incurring this kind of wasteful expenditure while many people are starving.”

Samarasinghe said professionals and other workers were protesting against the draconian tax increases.

“The government should utilize the funds to be wasted on ceremonies to buy food and medicine for the people.”