ERAN EXPLAINS WHY SJB IS OPPOSED TO THE CURRENT TAX LAW.

 

SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne has accused the Sri Lankan government of imposing a tax burden on poor and working people even before the implementation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditions. He made these comments while addressing the press at the office of the opposition leader in Colombo on Wednesday (22) on the report submitted by the President to the Parliament regarding the IMF loan.

MP Wickramaratne noted that the taxation of capitalists has been delayed until January 2025, while the tax-free threshold has been reduced to the limit of Rs 100,000, which is not a big salary. He further added that this government is taking increased revenue from the poor and working people by crushing them.

Furthermore, the MP pointed out that Sri Lanka, which is already burdened with debt and bankrupt without the ability to repay it, has just taken another loan. He warned that the poor and low-income earners will be affected the most by the agreement with the IMF. The MP stated that the same people who created economic and political instability in the country are coming forward to solve this problem. He urged the government to be careful in implementing this loan proposal.

MP Wickramaratne also criticized the IMF's transparency policy, which allows the deletion of market-sensitive information and premature disclosure of the authorities' policy intentions in published staff reports and other documents. He called on the IMF to disclose its policies, saying that there should be policy disclosure.

In conclusion, the MP emphasized that the government, which is quick to tax the common people and the working people is not yet ready to provide social safety networks to the poor. He accused the government of prioritizing the protection of the wealthy and their properties.

By Polito