We don’t need vehicle permits — give them to professionals – Sajith

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament that Members of Parliament do not require vehicle permits, and that such benefits should instead be extended to professionals and skilled workers in the state sector to encourage them to remain in public service.

Participating in the 2025 Budget debate, Premadasa said Sri Lanka is witnessing a growing brain drain due to low salaries, high taxes and lack of incentives for educated workers.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, presenting the 2025 Budget last week, announced that vehicle import permits will not be issued to anyone under the government’s fiscal discipline framework aimed at controlling expenditure and reducing inequality.

Premadasa said while the President promised to create “a prosperous nation with a beautiful life,” his administration had instead “produced a nation of suffering and helpless lives.” He charged that most 2025 Budget proposals had recorded little or no progress. Citing official progress reports, he said:

* Only 20% of the Rs. 500 million allocated for modernising school education has been used.

* Only 15% of the Rs. 200 million allocated for university scholarships has been spent.

* The programme to establish day-care centres for children with autism has achieved just 30% progress.

* Agricultural and youth entrepreneurship projects have shown around 40–45% progress.

Premadasa said the government had failed to implement key welfare and development programmes promised in the previous Budget, and had instead “produced a new reel of broken promises.”

He accused the administration of acting “under the tune of the IMF,” claiming that despite high tax collection and exceeding revenue targets, ordinary citizens were burdened with rising living costs, while professionals and small and medium enterprises were offered no relief.

“The government has gone beyond even the IMF’s targets in collecting taxes,” Premadasa said. “Yet there are no tangible solutions for unemployment, poverty or cost of living.”

Premadasa said the opposition would continue to act “for the people, not for privileges,” reiterating that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will follow a middle path focused on public welfare rather than personal gain. (Newswire)

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