PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT GOVT’S PLAN WITH EPF - UNP

December 10, 2013 
The public has a right to know how the government is investing EPF funds, UNP MP Harsha de Silva said today (December 10).

Currently there is around Rs.1.25 trillion in the EPF, he claimed while adding that these funds should not be used to invest in bankrupt institutions.

He said that Sri Lankan Airlines spent Rs.173 billion on purchasing new airplanes while the government spent only Rs.17.3 billion on bonuses for government workers which is about the cost of one plane.

If the government does not have money how does it purchase airplanes, he questioned.

The UNP MP pointed out that the Sri Lanka imports more than it exports and that the government is focussed more on exporting labour than exporting goods and services.

He added that the government’s income comes from imposing taxes on retail goods and food items.