PM challenges MR: Tell me how to repay loans while reducing taxes

10 June 2018 07:10 pm - 34 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Responding to a claim by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa that he would reduce taxes by 20 percent after regaining power, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe challenged him on Saturday to reveal the country how the latter is going to repay the huge amount of loans the country owes to the other countries after reducing taxes.

Speaking at a function that was organised to declare open the iron bridge that has been constructed over the Kelani River connecting Siyane Korale and Hapitigama Korale at Ranwala, Dompe, the Prime Minister stated that he wanted to know how Mr. Rajapaksa is going to reduce taxes while at the same time repaying the foreign debt with interest.

The Prime Minister was referring to a statement made by the former President during an interview with a Sinhala newspaper days ago.

Claiming that his government had to pay the loans including one amounting around Rs. 21,000 million obtained by the previous regime for acquiring lands from all over the country, Mr. Wickremesinghe said that his government was paying for the sins of Mr. Rajapaksa.

The Prime Minister referred to the proverb "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones" when he recalled how the government of former President who accuses the incumbent government now that it sells national assets to foreigners, sold 50 acres from the Port City outright to China and the land where the Army Headquarters was situated to a Chinese hotel.

He said that the country had to face several natural disasters such as floods, drought and the collapse of Meetotamulla garbage dump, yet the government has embarked on development projects such as the construction of Ranwala and Milleniya bridges. (Upali Ranaweera)

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Comments - 34

ransam Sunday, 10 June 2018 07:35 PM

Dear PM, then tell us how did you made all those promises regarding increasing salary, reducing living cost and inflation, reducing taxes, increasing economic growth if UNP is given the power before 2015 elections.

Scooby Doo Monday, 11 June 2018 09:44 AM

Exactly, this is where PM went wrong. Now what he has said is absolutely correct.

Ven. Kottawa Amaratissa Thero Monday, 11 June 2018 11:47 AM

Also ask PM, how about the Vauxwagan Car Factory? Dam liar .

Right Decision Maker Monday, 11 June 2018 11:48 AM

No point talking to a blind and deaf fellow, this is the last chance for this guy and his party.

Saman Sunday, 10 June 2018 07:45 PM

Stop robbing people's money. It will save billions.

Damian Ramanayake (Ex-Snr. Army Officer) Monday, 11 June 2018 11:52 AM

Main thing is he too robbed our money and not only that protecting all the dam robbers of Mahinda family and JO rotters including Arjun Mahendran.

Saradiel Sunday, 10 June 2018 07:49 PM

Very good challenge. Now MR can't say that he will say how once in power. Here we are talking about the country where the future is at stake. Masses are suffering due to massive loans and taxes. However has a solution should come out with it for country's sake.

karthik Sunday, 10 June 2018 07:53 PM

We have seen these challeges in the past and when you all loose the next election your successor is going to play the same music. But we are tired of listening to this same song.Why not you all get together and do something good for the country and the people. All what we see is only fraud and corruption all the time.

Unchikun Sunday, 10 June 2018 08:07 PM

Simple answer will come from MR. I will take more loans and sell Sri Lanka. The we will have more concert roads, expressways, airports, seaports etc and we are all happy.

Navin Sunday, 10 June 2018 08:25 PM

Reducing the tax rate encourages more investment, job creation and consumption. This leads to higher economic growth. Higher economic growth results in more revenue for the government. It’s quite simple actually. Happens every time.

Hari Mani Sunday, 10 June 2018 08:26 PM

Simple, by selling more parts of Srilanka in helping China becoming the new colorization master. MR laid the foundation by starting no revenue projects that indebted the country to the Chinese. My3 and RW continued with it, by selling parts of the country to their new master to pay the debts. However, none was held responsible for these poor financial decisions; as they all busy making commissions out of it.

Ceylon Sunday, 10 June 2018 08:34 PM

No one like your stupid challengess.everybody want you to do your job.still you talk garbage.you prosecute all the thieves and bring back to country all stolen billions.people dont want yours and sirisena's garbage talks.all know now you both are rajapaksa type thieves.

Haramanis Sunday, 10 June 2018 08:38 PM

The Dire economic straits we are in right now is totally and completely due to the bad policies of this yamapalana Govt - starting with payment of Rs 10,000 salary increase that we could not afford to halting ongoing projects on flimsy excuses - ultimately having to restart them after paying hundreds of millions of dollars as damages. To date no new projects have been started despite borrowing billions of dollars - only achievement to show is the disgraceful Bond Scam!!!

Thassim Sunday, 10 June 2018 08:41 PM

1. Stop looting the central bank or bring those who did it under the law.2. Reduce the level of curruption in the country specially with tax payers money.3. Increase the direct: indirect tax ratio. Just because it's more difficult to tax directly doesn't mean the innocent poor people are responsible.4. Step aside because even though your capable, you have become curropt.

Samson Sunday, 10 June 2018 08:43 PM

Very easy eliminate the wasteful expenditure incurred to maintain those unemployed 225, first and reduce the ministries to suit the size of our country.

The Critic Sunday, 10 June 2018 08:44 PM

It's like the blind leading the blind

Bubble Banda Monday, 11 June 2018 11:36 AM

No Ranil is pretending as Blind but Mahinda is totally deaf and blind.

DD Sunday, 10 June 2018 08:47 PM

I will tell you how to pay loans;Return Central Bank robbed money immediatelyDemand politicians who have robbed people's money.Cut ministers salaries, perks, vehicle allowances and tell them to use public transport.

Will Tuesday, 12 June 2018 04:44 PM

@DD,we feel this pension is as unethical plunder by MPs,this too should remove from government expenses

das Sunday, 10 June 2018 08:49 PM

MR and the JOkers probably don't even know how to calculate 20%, let alone pay it.

Premalal Sunday, 10 June 2018 08:53 PM

You can break the World Bank as you did to our CB. But then you need your partner in crime who currently is on the run.

Ceylon Sunday, 10 June 2018 08:59 PM

Recover rajapaksa stolen billions.all debts can pay.

Mangala Ranaweer Sunday, 10 June 2018 09:20 PM

You were voted into power not to ask MR for directions or how to do this and that.

sas Monday, 11 June 2018 09:16 AM

The PM is correct.

Krishantha Monday, 11 June 2018 09:35 AM

Whatever anyone says Mahinda is better 1000 times than Ranil as a leader.

Capt. Jack Sparrow Monday, 11 June 2018 09:36 AM

It's like asking a blind man in a fog for directions for he's lost too!!!

concerned Monday, 11 June 2018 09:50 AM

its a good challenge but i am 100% sure he has no idea of what he is talking about if he did he would have never held the presidential election ahead of time, he did so just to pass the ball to the winning side, now this is called politics in the banana republic, God bless this little island of ours

idroos Monday, 11 June 2018 10:04 AM

Well responded PM Sir

Lion Viswanathan Monday, 11 June 2018 11:39 AM

Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe, if you would have recovered the looted money by MR and his henchmen, that is more than enough to run the country without Taxes, but you saved them and protected for your own selfishness to remain in power.

Dennis Reeves Monday, 11 June 2018 11:41 AM

Every time, you take over the Leadership of our country - our country sinks economy wise because you and your people are silent rouges you all come to power only to make money for you guys not at all bothered about the public who voted.

Jayantha Jayasinghe Monday, 11 June 2018 11:42 AM

Foreign debt that we got to pay is large .If we do not pay the interest annually,the total amount due will increase .Thus ,it is not practical to decrease taxes.At the moment ,government today just completed payingsome of Rs.21,000 M that had to be paid for the purchase of land for the people.Now,M.Rajapaksha says that we are selling army HQ to a Chinese hotel .50 acres to China .Country had to face natural disasters as floods,droughts,,collapsing of Meetotamulla gabage dump..Yet,government didnt stop on its development programmes.

G.M. Perumal Sellasamy (Unionist) Monday, 11 June 2018 11:45 AM

Hay Wickramasinghe don't utter nonsense, bring your IRC Mahendran to SriLanka soon, other-wise very soon people will make you to catch your neck and throw away.

S. Vitharana Monday, 11 June 2018 02:12 PM

The way MR can pay off loans without increasing taxes:(1) Keep Finance Ministry to MR himself(2) Appoint a good Central Bank Governor (3) Appoint a good Secretary to Treasury (4) close down all government owned and non-vital industries/business and save money.(5) Reduce the Cabinet, reduce perks and allowances to MPs, Ministers, Directors, Chairmen etc(7) Reduce other waste, corruptions and use such savings to reduce taxes!

rosebud Monday, 11 June 2018 03:52 PM

Try reducing public service inefficiency, wastefulness and corruption.

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PM challenges MR: Tell me how to repay loans while reducing taxes

Comments - 34

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