Sri Lanka main opposition to oppose 2011 budget

Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) today said the party would oppose the government's 2011 budget that was presented by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the parliament yesterday.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told the media today that the government had failed to address the needs of the masses.

Attanayake said the UNP also opposed the large cabinet of ministers appointed by the President.

The UNP charged that the government was ignoring the issues faced by the people and has gone on to increase the number of ministers to 91 which would cost the government Rs. 220 million per month.

Attanayake said that when the people expect development in the country after the conclusion of the war, the government has appointed one of the biggest Cabinets in the world.

He also said the salary increase offered by the government was insufficient given the high prices of commodities.