BUDGET SPEECH 2012
Parliament at that time, how opposing forces got together to destruct this
Introduction 01.
progressive path. I am sure that the Hon.
Hon. Speaker, I am indeed happy
Senior Members of this august Assembly
to deliver the 7th consecutive Budget
would recall how this path was reversed
Speech of our Government. I am also
in 1977.
inspired to see you in the chair on this
02.
occasion. You would recall our young
very destructive path from 1977. This
days when our father - late D A
path was overshadowed by neo liberal
Rajapaksa, with other late leaders such as S
W
R
D
Bandaranaike,
economic policies on the one hand and
Philip
separatist terrorist activities, on the other.
Gunawardena and S A Wickramasinghe
This caused tremendous hardships to the
were in the forefront to make a decisive
general public. The whole nation became
change in our society. What they infused
a victim of terrorism. Democratic values
into our hearts as young children was a
got eroded. A revengeful culture came
new vision, with aspirations for Sri Lankan
values,
traditions,
into being. Many wrongful activities such
equal
as international money laundering, drug
opportunities for all, rural agriculture as
trafficking, smuggling and arms dealing
well as an entrepreneurial economy. The
were carried out on the pretext of
vision of these leaders in fact became a
terrorism.
formidable force that nurtured a people
and
feudalistic
political
and plans were virtually drawn up to
and
recognize a divided administration. Many
economic ideologies that prevailed. This
internal issues were internationalized by
transformation was subsequently taken
terrorists,
forward by several progressive leaders
I
recall
watching
state were virtually shattered.
with
amusement as a young Member of 1Â Â
threatening
the
hopes of our people to live in a unitary
late Dr. N M Perera and late Dr. Colvin R Silva.
thereby
sovereignty of the country. In short, all
such as late Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike,
De
Separatist terrorist activities
got aggregated to such a dangerous level,
centric approach as opposed to the urban elitist
This nation was placed on to a