‘Fruitless & deceitful Budget’ – Sajith

Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa

“It is a fruitless and deceitful Budget. There is no proposal included for recovering stolen assets. This Government has no proper tax policy. There is no way to increase the public revenue which is required to give relief to the general public.”

‘Decision to rectify historic injustice to upcountry people’ – Pavithra

Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation Pavithra Wanniarachchi

“We are very happy about the Budget presented this time. This is a Budget that will uplift the economy very effectively. There is a historical decision to rectify the injustice done to the people in the upcountry by the Waste Land Act and to provide them land deeds.”

‘Imposes lot of pressure on people’ – Harsha 

SJB Opposition Parliamentarian Dr. Harsha de Silva

“A strict reform agenda is needed to get the country back onto the right path. In that context, we can see this as a good attempt for that. Yet the problem is how the Government can implement what they have proposed. We see that this Budget has imposed a lot of pressure on ordinary people.”

‘Most proposals leftovers from last yr.’ – Namal

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa

“Most of the proposals presented to Parliament through the 2024 Budget speech were included in last year’s (2022) Budget as well. It is questionable whether these proposals have been practically fulfilled at the ground level or not, as the same matter is being included in the Budget proposals twice. So we are observing whether this year’s Budget will also be limited to a speech only.”

‘Nothing new’ – Charitha Herath

Freedom People’s Congress (FPC) Opposition Parliamentarian Prof. Charitha Herath

“There is nothing new in this Budget. This is also just another Budget proposed by another Government led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe. This Budget is the new face of what Wickremesinghe has been trying to implement for nearly 40 years, which is an already failed plan.”

‘No revenue estimate presented’ – Anura Yapa

Opposition Parliamentarian Anura Priyadarshana Yapa

“It is a Budget which was presented at a difficult time in history. It has apparently shown a way for a new path for the country’s economy. That is a positive sign. But for the first time in history, revenue estimation has not been presented in the Budget, which is a must in a Budget.”

‘Fuse of bomb to explode in future’ – Gammanpila 

Supreme Lanka Coalition (SLC) Opposition Parliamentarian Udaya Gammanpila

“This Budget would make 2024 another ‘dreadful 2022’ if they borrow money as it is mentioned in this proposal. This Budget is full of unrealistic statistics which could lead this country towards another crisis. The President today lit the fuse of a bomb which is set to explode in the near future.”

‘Many things given for those who asked’ – Duminda 

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Opposition Parliamentarian Duminda Dissanayake

“People expect many comforts from a Budget. Previous Governments had given many such comforts to the people by taking loans. When it comes to this Budget, we can be happy about many things, since it has given many things for those who asked for such.”

‘Nothing on estate workers’ salaries’ – Vadivel Suresh 

Opposition Parliamentarian Vadivel Suresh 

“The President has taken a good move to increase the salaries of public servants, yet nothing was said about the salaries of estate workers. Therefore, we hope that the President will take this matter into consideration and discuss it with the Wages Board.” 

‘Defence expenses skyrocket yet again’ – Wiggy

Leader of the Thamizh Makkal Thesya Kootani (TMTK) and Opposition Parliamentarian C.V. Wigneswaran

“The President has done his very best to make use of what was available there in order to conform to International Monetary Fund directions. But we see that this Budget has made the Provincial Councils subservient to the Central Government. However, the same as in previous Budgets, the defence expenditures have gone up higher and higher, even in the midst of such a difficult situation.”