Return the people’s taxes, Opposition tells Govt.

The United National Party (UNP) yesterday called on the Government to return the people’s money and tender a public apology for imposing illegal taxes via the 2013 Budget.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told a media briefing that the Government had failed to legally enact provisions of the Budget that had increased taxes in a host of sectors, including Inland Revenue, Nation Building, Excise and Customs.

He said that every cent the Government had charged in taxes from 1 January 2013 would be money obtained from citizens illegally unless new tax laws were passed by 31 March.

Attanayake said this was why the Government was attempting to pass 21 bills pertaining to taxation with undue haste ahead of the deadline, in complete violation of Parliamentary tradition and Standing Orders. He said the 21 bills scheduled to be passed ahead of 31 March had not yet even been properly tabled in Parliament.

“We watched this happen during the impeachment debate against the Chief Justice as well, when the Government failed to table a resolution for passing. Each time, they flout Parliamentary practice and ratify them using their pseudo majority – this is not an issue because the Speaker allows this status quo to continue,” the UNP General Secretary said.

He added that it was appalling that the Government simply appeared to not understand the business of administration. “Every Government knows that when you introduce new taxes in a budget, the relevant legislation must also be passed immediately afterwards,” Attanayake said.

He said it was inexcusable when the Government had such a large Cabinet of Ministers and so many Presidential advisors. “This regime has the world’s biggest Cabinet and the world’s largest Presidential Advisory Council. So where is the advice? How could this be something they overlooked?”

The UNP General Secretary said that taxation without the necessary legislation was a case of robbing the citizens. “This is tax-robbery,” he charged.