JVP to oppose new levies

By Jayashika Padmasiri
The Janatha Vimukthi Peremuna (JVP) yesterday said that they would vote against the upcoming levies of the government in Parliament, and show their disapproval against the levies. The JVP claims that the government is trying to enforce the new taxation laws before the upcoming budget in November. By doing so, the government intends to project a positive outlook in the budget.

Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake speaking to The Bottom Line said, “We are against the new levies the government is planning to bring forward, and we will use our votes against them in Parliament. The JVP sees these proposals as dubious attempt by the government to come up with quick cash to present at the annual budget in November. They have utterly failed in bringing a proper budget forward and now they are trying to find a way to come up with money fast to conceal their failure as a government,” Dissanayake said.

He also said that the levies proposed by the government were very unfair. “It will only be a burden on the shoulders of the people, adding to the many other difficulties faced by them due to the policies of the present government,” he said.

Mobile phone users will have to pay a monthly tax of Rs. 50 in addition to the ‘cellular mobile subscriber levy,’ which will go up to 7.5% from the present 2.5%. Vehicle prices will also be increased and a commercial tax will be added for every imported item.

A ‘regional infrastructure development levy’ and a commodity levy are also proposed to be introduced by the government. “We will oppose all of these levies in Parliament and vote against them,” Dissanayake added.