Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa says there would not have been an increase in taxes if not for the ‘Aragalaya’ peoples’ protest and former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa being forced to resign.
The former Minister said that the public questioned earlier former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as to why fuel prices and taxes were not increased, and why the government did not reach out to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“The answers to all these questions are available now with the current increase in fuel prices and taxes. If the Aragalaya was not staged and Gotabaya Rajapaksa was not chased away, these increases in tax and utility bills would not have occurred,” he said.
Stating that the ‘Aragalaya’ got rid of a leader who reduced taxes and utility bills, MP Rajapaksa said therefore, it was obvious that the Leader who has been appointed now will increase those charges.
MP Namala Rajapaksa said, however, it was essential to strengthen the National Economic Mechanism in order to face this situation, instead of blaming the IMF criteria and taxing the same group of people repeatedly.
The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has informed the President of the need to take policy decisions in this regard within the upcoming Budget proposal, the MP added. (NewsWire)
