Responding to queries of journalists during a public event today, the Minister said that the no-confidence to be moved against him by some opposition MPs would not pose any threat as the charges leveled were baseless.
Karunanayake challenged the opposition UPFA members to come out with credible facts and figures to prove their charges without resorting to baseless slander.
He also said that as proposed in the budget close to 6% allocation has been made for the development of education and challenged the UPFA opposition members to prove otherwise.
Speaking further, the Minister said, “Through this budget we restored many privileges that have been denied to the people during the past 11 years. It is said that this no-confidence motion is to be moved by a group who lined their pockets with public funds. Since they are no longer able to abuse public funds, they have resorted to these methods. I don’t consider this as a challenge in any way.
Some say that the budget has given nothing to the people. Still some others claim a no-confidence motion would be moved. However, from the very next day of the budget, the people have felt the relief given through the budget. Investments have been increased. Small and medium scale enterprises have been rejuvenated. “
Karunanayake went on to say that rumours of an impending increase in water, electricity and telephone bills due to 2016 budget proposals too are without any basis. He assured that the government would never heap unnecessary burden on the people.