Cheap Deal

Government announced a Rs. 10 a day subsidy to trishaw owners to help them whether the rising fuel prices and fulfilling a budget promise that according to analysts benefits the middle class.







Government announced a Rs. 10 a day subsidy to trishaw owners to help them whether the rising fuel prices and fulfilling a budget promise that according to analysts benefits the middle class. Profligate spending and tax cuts have landed the treasury a in a fiscal tight-spot ahead of key elections in a couple of months, but analysts expect the new subsidies to be first of many more to come.

Finance Minster Dr. Sarath Amunugama told trishaw owners gathered at the People's Bank in Colombo last week that Sri Lanka can't continue its profligate ways of subsidizing both the poor and the rich.

"Sri Lanka cannot forever give subsidies to everybody," he said The minister lamented that taxpayers' money is being burnt on the streets by politicians who let their children misuse their privileges.

"Some rich kids race their cars on roads during the night.

Poor tax payers money is spent on these races.

Some don't have licenses and are under aged. We are ashamed.... some are children of politicians. They