Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Wednesday, 19 October 2022 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar says the Government must assure the Sri Lankan people that revenue earned through taxation will not be subjected to wastage and corruption. “The Government has a responsibility to assure people that the tax revenue will not be wasted or be at risk of corruption. It has a responsibility to be transparent in these matters,” he said. According to Markar, the Government must be accountable for how public monies are spent.
The MP made these comments during the press conference held at the office of the opposition leader yesterday in Colombo. Markar said public trust in the Government has completely deteriorated. “Today’s Daily FT quoting independent sources has stressed that there should be reforms, accountability and transparency when it comes to spending tax revenue. They claim that 30% of the money is spent on salaries for local Government institutions and unnecessary expenditures. It should not be so,” he said.
“How can we talk of rising out of this crisis when the people’s tax monies are being wasted in this manner?” Markar asked.
He noted that accusations are being levelled against the Government for not using its tax revenue for the benefit of the people. “The newspaper also points out that the value of the rupee has dropped by 100% and that inflation has risen to 68%. At a time such as this, the people are being forced to bear a heavy tax burden. Therefore, the Government has a responsibility to assure the people these tax monies will not be wasted,” he said.
Commenting on the allegations of economic crimes levelled against Sri Lanka at the 51st session of the UNHRC, Markar said the Government is maintaining a stoic silence on taking legal action against those responsible.
Also addressing the press briefing the Vice President of the Samagi Youth Front, Attorney at Law Chamathka Ratnayake said the proposed tax reforms will overburden the people. “At the time tax reforms were introduced in 2019 the country was in a better economic state. Inflation was at 6 – 7%. The rupee had not depreciated. Today those paying taxes have dropped to 4-7 hundred thousand in comparison to the 1.5 million at the time. When compared to developing countries, Sri Lanka is with poverty-stricken countries like Africa today. Therefore, the SJB would like to question if it is suitable to burden the people with such hiked taxes,” she said.
