Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa has criticised the government’s economic management and implementation of budget proposals, raising concerns over rising living costs, foreign investment and the underutilisation of allocated funds.
Speaking during the parliamentary debate on Budget 2027, Rajapaksa questioned the government’s economic policies and its ability to deliver promised development programmes.
He argued that the government’s tax policies continued to place a heavy burden on ordinary citizens, while failing to provide sufficient relief on essential products such as milk powder and medicines.
Turning to foreign investment, he raised concerns over the status of major projects involving India’s Adani Group, China Merchants and Japanese investors in the port and shipyard sectors.
He questioned whether the government’s approach to investment facilitation was creating additional administrative barriers instead of supporting existing investors.
Rajapaksa also criticised the establishment of new administrative units, arguing that strengthening existing institutions would be more effective in attracting investment and implementing development projects.
Meanwhile, the MP accused several government ministries, including those responsible for sports, agriculture and disaster management, of failing to fully utilise funds allocated through previous budgets.
He claimed that significant portions of funding earmarked for disaster relief and infrastructure development remained unspent due to implementation delays and administrative difficulties.
Rajapaksa further argued that the government was presenting unspent allocations as savings achieved through reducing waste, when they could instead reflect failures to implement planned programmes. (Newswire)
