SL Budget, home grown, people friendly- Amunugama

[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 November 2004, 11:39 GMT]
Dr.Sarath Amunugama, Finance Minister of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government which came to power in April 2nd general election this year began his maiden budget speech Thursday around 2.30 p.m. amid expectation in the trade union circles an impressive salary increase for public servants as promised during the hustings, parliamentary sources said.

Senior ministers in the UPFA government welcomed Dr.Sarath Amunugama when he entered the well of the House with his Budget Box Thursday afternoon and government members greeted with applause, sources said.

Speaker Mr.W.M.J.Lokkubandara is presiding.

Dr.Sarath Amunugama has been delivering his budget speech in Sinhala and parliamentary translators providing simultaneous translation in Tamil and English and the State television, Rupavahini giving live telecast, sources said.

Dr.Sarath Amunugama in his pre-budget press briefing said he would be presenting a "home grown' and 'people friendly' budget which would revitalise the rural economy, not dictated by international aid agencies such as World bank and International Monetary Fund.