Joint Opposition And JVP Takes On Government Amidst Continuing Tax Slaps
June 3, 2016
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) declared today that it will fight the government for continuing to burden the people with various taxes.
Anura Kumara
Speaking at a protest rally in Colombo against the VAT increase, JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the government is tormenting the people by slapping on various taxes on everything. “They keep slapping taxes according to their whims and fancies. They can’t see a car, they have to impose a new tax. The people are undergoing severe hardships because of this,” he said.
“We will take the government head on in this fight,” Dissanayake said. The protestors who took part in a protest march, carrying placards demanded to know if Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had no shame in slapping the people with taxes, whilst he was spending Rs. 600 million for two vehicles for himself.
Meanwhile, the Joint Opposition will bring in another no confidence motion against Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, following the recent tax revision, including the Value Added Tax and the increase in the minimum unit tax for vehicles above 1000CC.
Addressing a news conference in Colombo, Parliamentarian Bandula Gunawardane, representing the Joint Opposition said that there was obviously conflicting views from President Maithripala Sirisena and the Government, including Finance Minister Karunanayake.
“President Sirisena said he will send home anyone who is burdening the people, and the government waits till he goes overseas to increase taxes. There is an obvious conflict within,” Gunawardena said.
