The government earned 118 billion rupees in the first 15 days of February through increased tax revenues, despite their claim that they could not raise 10 billion rupees for the elections. SJB MP Kabir Hashim pointed out
He said the government will easily reach its February target of 168 billion through taxes and VAT.
In addition to this, the MP stated that the government is aiming for 40 billion rupees in terms of excise duty and customs duty this month and clarified that it is against this background that the government claims that they are unable to find 10 billion rupees for the election.
Kabir Hashim, MP, said
“It is a lie to say that there is no money to conduct the election. Recently, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva announced that the 132 million dollars earned from the port would be used to build the eastern terminal of the Colombo Port. When such income is generated, the port also pays taxes.
He said the government is guilty of moral turpitude. They have deprived the people of their rights. The government is mortally scared of the election. But the right to vote is the right of every citizen.
Today we are talking about the port city. Investments will not come without democracy. We agree on the concept of the port city, but it needs drastic changes to its constitution. The Port City Commission has been given wide powers. They can grant tax holidays for 40 years to individual business concerns and point out that certain provisions need immediate changes to iron out ambiguities.
