A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Monday, June 26, 2017
Plans to reduce indirect taxes to 60 percent:Mangala
Indirect taxes account for 80 percent of the government’s tax income.
This will be brought down to 60 percent within the next two years
bringing tangible relief and benefits to the innocent and poor people,
Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera said.
He said when indirect taxes levied on people’s daily essentials are reduced, the prices of goods will come down sharply.
“The increased income earned from direct taxes will be invested in mass
scale projects to promote economic development,” Minister Samaraweera
said.
The Minister expressed these sentiments when he called on the Malwatte
Prelate at his temple in Kandy and received his blessings on June 24.
He was accompanied by development strategies and International Trade
Minister Malik Samarawickreme and Finance State Minister Eran
Wickremaratne.
Minister Samaraweera said there was a large number of tax evaders among
those liable to pay income tax. Even high income bracket doctors,
lawyers and architects were among the tax evaders.
He said the country was in deep crisis when the government took over
power after the last Presidential Election. On the other hand, there was
a severe setback to democracy. Sri Lanka was isolated by the
international community because democracy was in danger and media
freedom was crushed with killing, abduction and torture of journalists.
“As a result of the action taken by the President and the Prime Minister
to form a new consensus government by bringing together the two main
parties, the future course of the country had been rebuilt on three
strong edifies of democracy, harmony and development,” Minister
Samaraweera said.
He said no country could march forward in isolation. The government had
succeeded in winning over the maximum international confidence for the
country within a short period. One of the striking benefits was the
restoration of the GSP Plus facility and the removal of the prohibition
on fish exports imposed by Europe.
“The good governance government had been able to re-establish and
strengthen diplomatic ties with several counties and enter into free
trade agreements with China, Singapore and India.
There was high international recognition of the programme of work
enunciated by the President and the Prime Minister and countries such as
Russia and Australia had established enhanced high level diplomatic
relations with Sri Lanka,” the Minister said.
He said Minister Ravi Karunanayake had rendered a great service by
accepting the Finance Ministry portfolio at a most difficult time in the
country’s history.
“The country was engulfed in a severe debt trap when the government
assumed power and the debt burden was being systematically decreased
today,” the Minister said. He said 17 essential items were brought under
price control as soon as the government assumed power. He said
attracting foreign investment was compulsory in order to develop the
country.
Minister Samaraweera who also called on Ven. Dimbulkumbure Wimaladhamma
and Ven. Niyangoda Sri Vijithasiri Anunayake Theras of the Malwatte
Chapter, said the government was keeping a close tab on forces trying to
take the country backwards.
The SAITM Private University was established during the time of former President Mahinda Rajapakse.
SAITM had a peaceful existence for five years but all opposition and
demonstrations against it started after this government came to power.
He said the GMOA staged a strike even without concern for the patients
suffering from dengue.
Minister Samaraweera also called on the Asgiriya Prelate at his temple and resumed his blessings.
Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Malik Samarawickreme and State Minister
Eran Wickremaratne also called on the Malwatte Prelate and received his
blessings in June 24.