While denying allegations that the government has bribed the public with the Budget 2015, Minister of Irrigation and Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva said budget proposals offered formidable solutions to issues on the ground.

“The President has always provided for the needs of the people, this times Budget is a turning point for the country, the President should be appreciated unconditionally for his commitment to grant this relief”, The Minister said speaking to vernacular newspaper today.

Minister Silva denied the oppositions’ allegations that the Budget 2015 was a ‘Budget Bonanza’ and a “trick” by the UPFA government to hoodwink the public ahead of a presidential election.

The Minister maintained that Budget 2015 is aimed at strengthening the country’s economy and its political stability.

 Meanwhile, Minister Silva asserted that UNP Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake’s comments on the country’s Debt Policy bears no truth and that Karunanayake’s parameters in estimating the country’s outstanding debt is off-course. 

 “We have been able to bring down the debt percentage to a 65% while maintaining an economic development rate between 7% - 8%”, Silva said.

However, Minister Silva, who is one of the most senior ministers in the government, was seen sleeping while President Mahinda Rajapaksa was delivering the budget speech. The pictures portraying the Minister’s sluggish behavior was widely shared on social media.