by Zacki Jabbar

Pledging to develop the economy and provide more relief to the people, UNP leader and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday in Colombo that a new salary structure incorporating the Cost of Living would be introduced.

Wickremesinghe, who usually makes the penultimate speech at UNP May Day rallies, came up the order at Campbell Park, Borella as the rain began to fall. “I thank you for braving the weather and flocking in large numbers. Ours is the biggest among all workers gatherings in this country today. It has sent a clear message to the Cardboard Heroes backed blindly by some in the media,” he noted.

Pledging to double the Gross Domestic Product by 2023, the UNP leader said that it would be possible due to the positives arising from the existence of a national government.

He pointed out that the government had fulfilled most of its election pledges, one of which was a Rs. 10,000 allowance for state sector workers. “Our goal is to create one million more jobs and provide additional relief to the people by formulating a salary structure for both the Public and Private sectors by incorporating the Cost of Living. Under no circumstances would taxes on essential commodities be increased. ”

Wickremesinghe assured that loss making state enterprises would not be privatised, but steps would be taken to revive them by inviting the private sector both local and foreign to invest in them. Part of the profits earned from such institutions, he said, would be used to improve social welfare programmes including health and education.

Once the proposed Economic Zones were established, development would reach even the remotest parts of the country, the PM said adding that people who would benefit unlike under the Rajapaksa regime, under which a select group had became fabulously rich and stashed away their ill gotten wealth overseas.

The UNP leader said that the group of Opposition MPs led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was desperate as they could see the fruits of good governance, rule of law and steady economic development taking root. “They keep criticizing us for obtaining financial assistance from international organizations such as the World Bank. But, the difference is that unlike the Rajapaksas, we have not mortgaged the country by taking high interest commercial loans. In contrast the funds received are on very low and easy payment terms.”

Courtesy:The Island