Govt. reducing tax on imports of vehicle imports and increasing taxes on essential goods

UNP Gen. Secretary Tissa Attanayake stated , the Govt. suddenly reducing the taxes on vehicle imports ostensibly to boost the tourist Industry is actually dancing to the tune of the IMF in its desperation to get the third tranche of the IMF loan which has been held back owing to the Govt. ‘s failure so far to fulfill the loan conditions. The Govt.’s aim should be to fulfill the promises it has made to give relief to the people after the war ended. On the contrary , it is only interested in kowtowing to the IMF and getting more loans and plunge the country into a debt crisis and chaos.

While raising the price of flour, gas and increasing the tax on  the food item, salmon  by Rs. 85/ per Kilo , it is taking measures to decrease the prices of vehicles , telephones , cameras etc. What a wonderful Govt. is this ? he asked. History relates , the  French queen asked her people to eat cakes when they were clamoring for bread  . This govt. is asking the starving people of SL to eat vehicles, phones and cameras by reducing the prices of those goods and raising the prices of food items.

It is very unfortunate that the Govt. has driven itself into such an economic quagmire that , like an insolvent businessman who would stoop to anything to get a loan to overcome his desperation, the Govt. is doing everything possible even to the detriment of the people , country and its economy   to secure the IMF loan , he pointed out.