‘Ready to support Govt. proposals that work for the country’

SJB MP Dr. Harsha De Silva said in Parliament yesterday that the support will be given as an Opposition for Government’s proposals that work for the country, by going beyond popular politics.

The MP said this while joining the debate on the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill.

The MP said that there is no clarity and transparency when presenting facts regarding amendment to the VAT.

“It was said that VAT will be exempted from 97 items, but the exemption has been withdrawn. Then the VAT is imposed,” he said.

“This is not clear. It said if the income is not even 15 percent compared to the gross domestic product, it will be difficult to maintain the stability of economy. We accept it one hundred percent.”

“During the time of President Premadasa, the income was 20 percent compared to the gross domestic product. The Government that came in 1994 took popular political decisions.

Because of the popular decisions taken since 1994, Rs. 600 billion in taxes were lost and the income fell to 8 percent.

“Dr. Maheen Mendis, Dr. Athulasiri Samarakoon and Dr. Nevis Moraes filed a case through President’s Counsel Jayasuriya. It was PC Romesh de Silva who spoke on the other side of the case. They lost the case. Who was to blame for the economic collapse? Three Rajapaksas are there. Cabral, P.B. Jayasundera are also there. When presenting such tax amendments, the Government should be more truthful. The VAT will be increased from 15 percent to 18 percent. When this was brought to the COPF, we were embarrassed. We appealed not to tax the nutritious food given to children. Even ambulances are charged VAT. Solar power is also subject to VAT. Please provide the government VAT list in the Sinhala language. The list is provided in English language only.”

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