Tax breaks for people and not unscrupulous business: Karu

Monday, 13 November 2023 01:53 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

NMSJ Chairman and former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya

National Movement of Social Justice (NMSJ) Chairman and former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya called on the Government to provide tax concessions for the country’s people and not for businesses involved in unscrupulous activities.

Jayasuriya noted that the latest tax scheme for the importation of sugar has only given the opportunity for a handful of businessmen to be enriched and has provided no benefit to either the people or the Government.

“The NMSJ stresses that tax concessions should be directed towards the citizens and not towards unscrupulous businessmen engaged in illegal earnings. Consequently, it is the Government’s duty to promptly deliver justice to the people,” he said.

“It has also been reported that the recent hike in sugar taxes has resulted in a substantial windfall of Rs. 10 billion in the hands of a select few businessmen,” he noted.

The former Speaker said that historically, Sri Lanka has never achieved success by creating such conditions and implementing maximum retail prices.

“It is also crucial to recall that at one point in time, the Government policy in this country was designed to prevent a select group of businessmen from illicitly profiting through tax amendments influenced by a few powerful individuals,” Jayasuriya stressed.

The former Speaker urged the Government to conduct a formal investigation and take steps to utilise this windfall profit for the betterment of the people.