The newly imposed Value Added Tax (VAT) will further increase the misery of the people, which may result in deaths due to economic difficulties, Opposition leader MP Sajith Premadasa warned.
MP Premadasa pointed out that incidents of suicide have been reported due to families being unable to fulfil their household needs and feed their children.
Stating that the current government is adding further to the misery of the people, the Opposition Leader said the implementation of the new VAT rate from January this year was such a move.
MP Premadasa pointed out that increasing the VAT rate was not the only way to increase government income, adding that another way was to establish a framework to repatriate money stolen from the country.
“The current government is unable to do this because they got the positions of President and Prime Minister by relying on thieves,” he said.
The Opposition Leader further alleged that the incumbent government was working to protect the thieves instead of apprehending them.
MP Sajith Premadasa made the remarks while attending an event at a school in Gampaha on Tuesday (Jan 02). (NewsWire)