In a demonstration that began at 9:00 AM today (13) in front of Diyatha Uyana, protestors are demanding an urgent revision of current tax policies mainly the 18% VAT increase. The GMOA has reported the active participation of representatives from 47 associations in this peaceful protest.
The union’s Media Spokesperson, Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe, highlighted the union’s stance that the government has surpassed acceptable limits in tax collection, asserting the need for an immediate revision. Despite the government’s initial target of collecting 100 billion for the year, tax revenue had already reached 120 billion by November, with an ambitious goal of reaching 160 billion by the year-end.
Dr. Chamil underscored the significant impact of these tax burdens on professionals, scholars, and intellectuals, emphasizing that the current tax collection practices have become unsustainable. The protestors aim to draw attention to the perceived strain imposed on individuals in these sectors due to the surplus tax collections beyond the initially set targets.
