Tell a way to fulfil strikers’ demands by not raising VAT by 3% – Minister Dr. Bandula

Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana urged the relevant parties to suggest a way to fulfil the demands of the strikers instead of increasing VAT by 3 percent.

The strikers, who know that they will never be able to come into power and have no, understanding of how to govern a country, are demanding a salary increase of Rs. 20,000 per month following the guidance of narrow political leaders.

In order to grant this salary increase, an additional amount of Rs. 400 billion is required.

The government currently pays public servants salaries through taxes collected from the people. In order to fulfil this demand of salary increase, the 18 percent VAT should be increased to at least 21 percent.

The government is no longer able to subject the entire Sri Lankan people to the tax burden. If the general public unanimously favours a tax increase, we can consider the request of strikers. Demands cannot be won by levelling threats to the government or making the government into difficulties.

Therefore, if strikers cannot wait until next year’s budget document is prepared, they should show the government how to find money to pay the salary increment required by them.

Construction of several road development projects in Colombo district was begun under a national project to rehabilitate 1,500 kilometres of roads across the country, under the patronage of the Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister, Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana.

Accordingly, Maharagama, Wattegedara Mandara Uyana Road, Makumbura Raja Mawatha, Kottawa Mahalwarawa Bakery Road, Malabe Mihindu Mawatha 15 Lane and Athurugiriya Pore Bakmeegahawatta were carpeted and modernised.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister said that the country’s production stopped completely due to the Covid epidemic that the whole world faced adversity. However, the government had to pay salaries of employees without reducing a cent during that time. Apart from that, the government had also printed money and distributed subsidies of Rs. 5,000 to each, for a large number of people. In that way, all local and foreign reserves were spent for that. The country was unable to import essential items including fuel and gas due to this situation. Due to that many people had to wait in queues and some died. Riots broke out. Electricity had to be suspended for hours.

The oppressed people were motivated by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and other extremist groups to go on a rampage. The whole country was heading to anarchy. Due to this situation, when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa left office, no one came forward to take responsibility for the country. At that time, present President Ranil Wickremesinghe, an experienced political leader, accepted the challenge with the consent of the majority of the Parliament.

Then, his first task was to enter into an extended loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund. Due to the implementation of the terms of the agreement, the country had reached a point where it could be revived again. If that agreement was not signed then, it would not be possible to run this government. But many politicians do not tell the truth to the people about this true situation that the country is facing. If anyone declares that our country is able to move by changing this agreement made with the international community, our country will fall into an even worse abyss. As a country we cannot move forward without relations with the world. Other countries that faced similar economic crises rose again by increasing production by giving more space to foreign investment. All the people of the country should understand this reality.

An amount of US$ 500 million had been received by the government under the aid of the World Bank for road development works across the country. An amount of US$310 million out of this amount was again obtained from the treasury when there was a shortage of medicine, fuel and essential food in the country.

As a result, all road development projects were stopped. With the signing of the debt restructuring agreement, discussions have commenced with Kuwait Fund and Saudi Fund and are working to release the loan support part by part. At the same time, steps have been taken to restart many projects that were stopped in the middle. If the debt restructuring agreement is not signed, we will not get any of that facility.” he added.

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