Minister of Finance Ravi Karaunanayake assures lifting of the current tax burden soon with the government’s financial discipline coming into action.
He added that the government has taken every possible measure to eliminate waste and corruption for achieving this goal.
Minister Ravi K was distributing dry rations among the low income Muslim families in Colombo North area on Tuesday (5th July) coincident with the Ramadan festival.
Minister Karunanayake replying a statement from former President Rajapakshe on recent VAT increment questioned whether they have forgotten their recent past. “We also would like to reduce the cost of living and remove the burden from the ordinary people. However we are unable to reject the dowry of debts passed on us by the Rajapaksa regime”, Minister added.
“Rs.288 billion spent for the Hambantota harbor but, its monthly revenue is only 3.4 million rupees. The UNP government estimated to construct the Southern Highway at a cost of 60 billion rupees but Rajapaksa regime spent 128 billion rupees for the project. People are suffering today consequent to the loans obtained during past government at high interest rates such as 8%. Therefore, I challenge former president Mahinda Rajapaksa to participate in a debate with me for two hours and, argue on the country’s economy, without making false statements at every nook and corner”, minister said.