DailyMirror
‘Vote On Account’ debate in Parliament
The UNP charged in parliament yesterday that the amount spent for the Dehiwala Fly Over is more than the amount spent for the best fly over in the world, in Dubai.
UNP MP Kabir Hashim who was speaking during the debate on ‘Vote On Account’ in the House yesterday said Rs. 112,000 have been spent for one square foot of the Dehiwala Fly Over whereas only Rs. 36,000 was spent for one square foot of the Dubai Fly Over.
Mr. Hashim also informed the House that Rs. 117,000 had been spent for one square foot of the Nugegoda Fly Over and Rs. 264,000 for the Kelaniya Fly Over.
“A huge amount of funds have been wasted through these projects,” he charged.
The UNP MP who referred to the recent interest rate cut said it is a joke. “We only laugh at this decision,” he said recalling that the government refused to cut the raters when the UNP suggested it.
He charged that certain state banks only paid a deposit rate of 5% to 13% even when the inflation rate was a staggering 21%. Mr. Hashim said this is why their money is in errant finance companies. “Therefore the government’s decision to reduce interest rates had come too late”, he said.
The UNP MP said the SME bank which was set up to provide loans to small and medium scale businesses had only provided loans to 90 selected large scale businesses and 30 percent of those have become non performing loans. He said the bank was merged with Lanka Puthra Bank and that bank also had become bankrupt.
Mr. Hashim recalled that people had lost interest in the budget today as it had not offered any concessions to the people during the recent years.
“People are not glued to their radios and TVs now, as it was during the old days when budgets are presented.” he said.