Rs.7500 enough for family of three - Bandula Gunawardena

I feel this is better to post in

http://forum.srilankaequity.com/t10451-entertaiment-spot-all-are-welcome

I saw this and can't images how a educated minister could say this. ANyway I think this is in the right section

slstock wrote:an educated minister ?

This comment amply demonstrates the level of his so-called Education !

SL.Market wrote:I feel this is better to post in

http://forum.srilankaequity.com/t10451-entertaiment-spot-all-are-welcome

I have already post in entertainment section

Malika1990 wrote:

SL.Market wrote:I feel this is better to post in

http://forum.srilankaequity.com/t10451-entertaiment-spot-all-are-welcome

I have already post in entertainment section

well done..

many treads with this small entertaining things

There are times when making ridiculous statements seems to have become a profession among Sri Lanka’s politicians, but the latest crack by Education Minister Bandula Gunawardana takes the cake. The assumption that a measly sum of Rs. 7,500 is enough for a family of three to survive on is not just a gross understatement, but shows the complete lack of knowledge and empathy politicians have about the plight of the common man.

The fact that such a nonsensical statement can be made by the Education Minister of all people, and a former tuition master at that, makes one turn grey with worry over the state of the education sector in the country. That fact that politicians are a few apples short of a barrel is obvious to everyone, but the insensitivity of the comment from a person that was elected to office to serve the people makes this statement all the more unforgivable.

It is perhaps strange that Sri Lanka’s brand of democracy elects people to serve the common man and then immediately distances him from the very public he is meant to serve through a complicated, and one might say wholly unnecessary, set of perks and privileges. Ministers who whizz by in their motorcades complete with multiple flunkies, fat salaries and a plethora of other benefits can hardly appreciate the day-to-day struggle of the masses.

Yet, where this ignorance becomes harmful is that these are the same people who are part of the Cabinet and therefore the highest policymaking body of this country. If the Government exists to regulate society and provide fairness and inclusivity to the average man, then its members must know what existence is eked out by them. Without this knowledge, they cannot make intelligent and empathic decisions that impact the daily lives of millions of people in this country.

Moreover, as a Minister who has the responsibility of educating the future generation of this country, such a statement borders on empty-headed rhetoric that the public should not be subjected to. Not only should there be a public apology, there must be steps to ensure that the Minister in question takes a lesson by living like the people he claims to represent.

Sri Lanka’s public has taken too many silly statements lying down. Whether they be election promises or random statements made at public events, the situation has gone far enough. There must be some level of probing the truth behind these statements and an attempt to make top public officials responsible for the remarks that they make. If not it would make far more sense not to listen to them in the first place.

At a time when people are protesting for higher salaries and the economy is struggling to maintain its post-war momentum, what Sri Lanka and the three-member family the Minister mentioned need are pragmatic and realistic policies. Politicians in the country are already responsible for much of the wastage and corruption that plagues it; let at least their words serve where their actions do not.
http://www.ft.lk/2012/03/21/watch-your-words/

He has made this statement as a politician and not as an economist. Anyway I am not going to justify it.

redda thama! eyata masekata laksha ganan hamba wena hinda oka therenne neha. kiyanna lesi habai karanna thamai beri. Onne okai ape aya kiyanne 'katin bathala kola hitawanawa kiyala'.

Bandula ready for public debate

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardene said today said he was ready for a public debate to prove that a family of three could survive with a monthly income of Rs.7500.

He told a news conference he would meet anyone with a sound knowledge of economics to disprove what he said.

Mr. Gunawardene said his argument was that a small family could survive on Rs.7,500 a month and pointed out that school hostels spend only Rs.2,500 to feed a student for a month.

The minister who used to be an economics teacher said a family spends only 41 per cent of the monthly income for food and the rest is spent on clothes and to pay utility bills.

He said this is what is computed by the Colombo Consumer Price Index which works out the average income of a family and their spending patterns.
The minister said his argument was based on sound economic principals and he could prove it any time. (Yohan Perera)

http://www.dailymirror.lk/top-story/17688-bandula-ready-for-public-debate.html

Monster wrote:Bandula ready for public debate

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardene said today said he was ready for a public debate to prove that a family of three could survive with a monthly income of Rs.7500.

He told a news conference he would meet anyone with a sound knowledge of economics to disprove what he said.

Mr. Gunawardene said his argument was that a small family could survive on Rs.7,500 a month and pointed out that school hostels spend only Rs.2,500 to feed a student for a month.

The minister who used to be an economics teacher said a family spends only 41 per cent of the monthly income for food and the rest is spent on clothes and to pay utility bills.

He said this is what is computed by the Colombo Consumer Price Index which works out the average income of a family and their spending patterns.
The minister said his argument was based on sound economic principals and he could prove it any time. (Yohan Perera)

http://www.dailymirror.lk/top-story/17688-bandula-ready-for-public-debate.html

Family should be vegetarian, No illness for family member, schooling in walking distance for one child, No one go to outside the house any purpose even for work, all cloths provided by government, water/electricity connection is available but they have to protect those......

sad thing is This type of economist we have... He don't know reality and living standard of the people....

Better thing now government do is add Rs.850 for all MPs monthly salary for food allowance for lunch (2500/3== say Rs.850 for one meal for whole month). If government need allowance can be further reduced days open the parliament... sure allowance would be Rs.500...

Then they can bring their lunch from the home.

Government can save millions of rupee for a month...

Dear Bandu...

You saying real figures of the school hostel then plz what would happen with parliament lunch expenses?

No debate needed either public or otherwise.
Let's move the Temple Trees & Parliament to Badulla.
At lease then we can live peacefully in Colombo.

Monster wrote:Bandula ready for public debate

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardene said today said he was ready for a public debate to prove that a family of three could survive with a monthly income of Rs.7500.

He told a news conference he would meet anyone with a sound knowledge of economics to disprove what he said.

Mr. Gunawardene said his argument was that a small family could survive on Rs.7,500 a month and pointed out that school hostels spend only Rs.2,500 to feed a student for a month.

The minister who used to be an economics teacher said a family spends only 41 per cent of the monthly income for food and the rest is spent on clothes and to pay utility bills.

He said this is what is computed by the Colombo Consumer Price Index which works out the average income of a family and their spending patterns.
The minister said his argument was based on sound economic principals and he could prove it any time. (Yohan Perera)

http://www.dailymirror.lk/top-story/17688-bandula-ready-for-public-debate.html

Bahu ready for debate

New Left Front Leader and Member of the Dehiwala Mount Lavinia Municipal Council Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne had accepted the challenge posed by Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardene for a public debate on the statement which the Minister earlier made that a family of three could survive by spending a maximum amount of Rs 7500 per month.

Dr. Karunaratne told Daily Mirror that he had already informed Minister about his intention for a public debate and is negotiating with him on the matter.

He said a private TV channel had come forward to coordinate the debate and telecast it live.

“I decided to go for the debate as I want to prove that the minister is trying to teach people how to live like paupers,” he said. (Yohan Perera )

http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/17701-bahu-ready-for-debate.html

Before I thought only one Joker in the cabinet , now seems to be all of them are.

Redbulls wrote:Before I thought only one Joker in the cabinet , now seems to be all of them are.

When he was in the opposition party he showed some signs of a good economist. But looks like things do get change when they come to power.

UKboy wrote:

Redbulls wrote:Before I thought only one Joker in the cabinet , now seems to be all of them are.

When he was in the opposition party he showed some signs of a good economist. But looks like things do get change when they come to power.

Yes UK boy... when they got the power ... all are getting mad... I saw in the paper JVP also like to have a
debate with this so called Economist...

manula wrote:

UKboy wrote:

Redbulls wrote:Before I thought only one Joker in the cabinet , now seems to be all of them are.

When he was in the opposition party he showed some signs of a good economist. But looks like things do get change when they come to power.

Yes UK boy... when they got the power ... all are getting mad... I saw in the paper JVP also like to have a
debate with this so called Economist...

JVP will do that coz now they are not a partner of the ruling party. Otherwise they would back this Minister.

Is this quote still valid?