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Wednesday, 23 October 2019 03:31 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Nuwan Senarathna
With sweeping promises to write off farmers’ debt and ensure stable prices, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday said he would cut Value Added Tax to 8% under his government. 
Addressing hundreds of supporters in Embilipitiya, Rajapaksa promised to uplift the living standard of farmers and ensure a stable income through stable price schemes for paddy and other crops. According to Rajapaksa, the farmers’ living standard can be uplifted through finding better markets and introducing modern technology.
He said that if elected, a new Government under him would work towards introducing simpler tax policies and cutting down the VAT. He also stated he would remove middlemen who prey on paddy farmers, by establishing national grain silos and a warehouse to store surplus produce. Rajapaksa said that priority would be given to meet national food security goals.
“My goal is to make farmers into entrepreneurs. If we introduce new technology for the agricultural sector as a way to increase the quality of the production, then we can get a higher price for the crops,” Rajapaksa said.
He also said he would not let the quality of export crops such as tea and pepper be downgraded, which in his view would damage the reputation of the Sri Lankan crops that can be used for higher income-generating sectors.
Referring to the country’s economic development, Rajapaksa said the people-centric development model would be used to attain economic development goals. According to Rajapaksa, every citizen is entitled to a dignified life, with economic stability and equal opportunities to progress.
“We must recognise that Asian regions hold the future of market opportunities and encourage our entrepreneurs to find these markets. If we take Singapore for an example, 90 % of its exports are to other countries in the Asian region and only 10% to the USA and Europe. Sri Lanka must also make maximum use of these opportunities that are within our region.”
Moving to national security, Rajapaksa argued that the country’s current national security is compromised due to lapses in the National Intelligence Service. He claimed that the Government had ignored the importance of the National Intelligence Service, which weakened national security.
“We must reinstate the intelligence mechanism that was proactive until 2015. We must bring the intelligence operations of the Tri-Forces and the Police under the responsibility of one head and thereby connect all these units. This responsibility must be again handed over to capable officers.”
Speaking at the same rally, Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa pledged to protect State properties and to stop privatising public properties. He noted that if elected, they would continue development projects that halted following the 2015 election defeat.
“We will bring back those glory days. The country will be on the path of development so that every citizen can live a harmonious life. We will make sure that every citizen of the country will be part of the development of the country and uplift their living standards,” he said.
Referring to allegations levelled against them, Rajapaksa said they were all based on political motives. He noted that the Government was unable to prove their accusations, which in his view proved their innocence.
“The biggest corruption was reported after 2015. The Central Bank bond scam is the biggest financial crime in the history of this country. The Government cannot run away from that responsibility. The public will make them answer for that during the election,” he said.
