UNP Deputy General Secy. asserts no loss in State revenue

Wednesday, 31 January 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

UNP Deputy General Secretary and Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam yesterday asserted that claims made by President Maithripala Sirisena and various parties concerning the loss of revenue to the State were merely political speeches targeting the upcoming elections and had no factual value.

“At a time when Sri Lanka has a current account surplus of Rs. 22 billion, it is obvious that any statement about loss of revenue to the State is one that is said targeting the elections,” the Minister said in a statement.

The statement further affirmed that no state institutes were privatised to increase Government revenue.

“All we did was achieve a current account surplus for the first time in 63 years. A surplus of Rs. 22 billion,” he said, adding that the World Bank reported that the Sri Lankan economy had grown at a pace of 5.5% by January 2017

The Minister also pointed out that both the International Monetary Fund and the Central Bank had noted that Sri Lanka’s economic growth despite natural disasters ravaging the country was a clear indication of the start of a progressive and fast-growing economy.

He went on to say that the incumbent government had inherited a massive debt trap causing them to streamline state institutions to make them more efficient in order to resolve the nation’s debt problem.

“We have taken many steps to promote the wellbeing of the masses. A great example of this is that the low fuel prices we established in 2015 when we came to power have been maintained for three consecutive years without fail.”

“Therefore, it is very clear that any claims made about loss in state revenue without factual evidence are nothing more than statements made for political mileage.”