Upcoming budget faces rejection as G.L. predicts no relief for people

Tuesday, 31 October 2023 01:44 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Questions existence of Govt. if it solely focuses on raising tariffs and not providing other solutions
Accuses Govt. of failing to recover outstanding taxes in favour of friends
Claims Govt. is granting tax concessions to close associates for no valid reason
Says his party categorically rejects current state of affairs

Freedom People’s Congress (FPC) member Prof. G.L. Peiris raised concerns yesterday about the Government’s reason for being if it solely focuses on raising tariffs for essential items like electricity, water, and LP gas without offering any other solutions to the ongoing crisis.

“What the Government is currently engaged in can be handled by a bookkeeper,” the MP remarked.

Peiris suggested that the sole workable solution for the Government is to recover outstanding revenues owed to the Treasury and the Inland Revenue Department from various persons and groups. “But they are not pursuing this avenue as a favour to their friends,” he claimed. According to the MP currently these unrecovered taxes amount to Rs. 58 billion.

The MP also pointed out that 60% of the revenues owed to Sri Lanka Customs have not been paid. “Instead the funds remain in the pockets of those with close ties to the Government through the sticker fraud relating to alcohol bottles,” he alleged.

“The Government is exerting pressure on the people, levying heavy taxes and depleting their resources. Professionals are emigrating from the country. Yet, inexplicably, they are granting tax concessions to their close associates, despite the IMF’s observation that one of the most significant obstacles for Sri Lanka to overcome the crisis is pervasive corruption,” he noted.

The MP emphasised that it is clear the upcoming budget will not bring any relief to the people. “We categorically reject this state of affairs,” he said.