by Melani Manel Perera

Population’s disbelief over 201 billion rupees (1.5 billion) allocated to the Ministry of Defence despite the war ending last year. Education, health and economic development are in crisis.

rupees (1.5 billion) to the Ministry of Defence for 2010. It is the highest sum in the last 25 years. Last year 177 billion (1.3 billion) were allocated to the army, but the war against the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) was still ongoing, and only formally ended May 18, 2009.

Several people, who prefer to remain anonymous, tell AsiaNews that "the war is over. What need is there to strengthen the army? The intention is clear: the foreign bank accounts of prominent people will increase .... "

The  June 8draft budget, calls for the availability for the financial year 2010, of approximately 975 million rupees (7 million) for the public services sector. The cost of living in Sri Lanka is very high and workers cannot survive without proper state assistance. The 201 billion rupees allocated to the Ministry of Defence have enraged citizens, especially when compared with the 61 million (450 thousand Euros) earmarked for the Ministry for Economic Development, the 2750 (20 million) for education and 5310 (39 million) for health.

The Secretary General of the World Forum for Fisher People (WFFP) commented on the news to AsiaNews: "The situation is pathetic, we can not accept this bill. Regarding education, apart from teacher salaries, the rest must be paid by parents. There are no medicines in hospitals, patients have to buy paracetamol in pharmacies. The Government has always justified its spending with the war, but now the war is over. "

Unofficial sources believe that the money will serve to help the Government to establish in the Sinhalese domination of the north. The Sinhalese are the majority ethnic group in Sri Lanka, making up about 74% of the population and live mainly in the centre, south and west of the country.

• sri
• lanka
• colombo
• government
• budget
• military
• spending
• war
• tamil
• sinhalese