By Saman Indrajith
Opening the debate on the Budget 2023 for the Opposition, Dr. De Silva said Budget 2023 had welfare expenditure by Rs. 40 billion rupees. “When we were in power, inflation was below 5%, but the people were complaining of economic difficulties. Today, food inflation has gone up to 95%.”
Dr. de Silva said that the tax policies envisaged by the Budget 2023 would discourage exporters. The President spoke of boosting exports with the help of new policies but in reality that will not happen. There are other factors that affect investment and they include law and order and a corruption free environment. Look at the tax benefits given to the exporters in neighbouring countries. In Bangladesh, the tax for exporters is 22.5 %. It is 12 percent for the garment exporters. The President did not mention some figures pertaining to the export industry.”
“Those who are sitting with the Prime Minister on that side of the government ranks today are with us.
“There is no mechanism to tackle tax evaders.
“The aim of improving a digital economy is not realistic. Budget 2023 has not proposed a mechanism to prevent brain drain. There is no proper solution envisaged for the development of agriculture, except for promoting ganja cultivation and trying to find means for the reduction of post-harvest losses,” Dr. de Silva said.