Hambantota District Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa stressed that when the taxes were reduced in the budget brought by the former government, both Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB) let that budget to win unanimously, said if the country faced bankruptcy due to tax concessions, those two also played a role in it.
Rajapaksa emphasized that the responsibility for the country’s economic crisis should be shouldered by the current SJB leaders who were members of the good governance government and JVP members who supported that government.
When former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated in the Presidential Election in 2015, the country’s economic growth was 7%, but upon returning to power in 2020, the economic growth had dropped to 2%, according to Namal Rajapaksa.
He highlighted that the government, led by Gotabaya Rajapaksa had promised to reduce taxes in its election manifesto. Rajapaksa questioned how reducing taxes, in accordance with the given mandate, could be considered a mistake.
Rajapakse pointed out the irony that academics who went to court against the tax reduction, including VAT, and protested on the road when the current government increased taxes based on IMF recommendations.
He mentioned that while some individuals may be hurt by criticisms of the budget, if there are mistakes in any government, he will not hesitate to point them out for the sake of the people.
Rajapaksa further explained that because Gotabaya Rajapaksa remained silent on incorrect decisions, such as the use of organic fertilizers during his government, the current crisis has arisen. He emphasized the importance of learning from mistakes and stated that he would not hesitate to criticize and point out errors not only about the budget but about any decision taken by the current government.
