Govt. failing to place due tax burden on wealthy: Sajith

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa 

• Accuses Govt. of destroying lives of people to come out of bankruptcy
• Questions why Govt. cannot recover stolen funds by those mentioned in Pandora papers
• Says SJB when in power will set up program led by concepts of social justice, economic justice and humanity

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has accused the Government of failing to place the due tax burden on the country’s wealthy. 

Premadasa said while taxes are necessary to increase Government revenue, the Government is seeking to levy similar tax rates on all, including the common man. 

“The Government is attempting to come out of bankruptcy by destroying the lives of the people,” he said. 

According to Premadasa, any economic growth if claimed must be felt by the general public. “A three-wheeler driver or a day labourer must feel this change. But if this growth is only felt by the wealthy and the rich that is not acceptable,” Premadasa added. 

Premadasa made these comments at the Central Colombo electoral organising meeting held over the weekend. 

“The Government on one hand is claiming it does now have dollars. But at the same time, they are levying a 30% tax on the country’s exporters. This Government has no sense,” he noted. Premadasa questioned why the Government cannot take steps to recover stolen funds from the likes of those mentioned in the Pandora papers if it lacks revenue. 

“Won’t this bring in revenue for the Government and enable the authorities to reduce taxes levied on the common man?” he asked. 

But Premadasa said the Government will never take any action against the Rajapaksas or investigate their wrongdoings. “They will never bring back the stolen funds and neither will legal action be taken against them,” he said. Premadasa said this is the cause of the high tax rates increased by the Government. 

The Opposition Leader said a Samagi Jana Balawegaya Government will hand over all investigations into frauds committed by the powerful to an independent body. 

“We will not only bring back stolen funds but also take action against those responsible for committing these acts of fraud and corruption,” he said. 

According to Premadasa, the SJB will bring in a program led by the concepts of social justice, economic justice and humanity in response to the system change sought by the people.