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Getting harassed by IMF: Ravi

26 September 2016 01:00 pm - 21     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) appears to be hounding Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake in the wake of multiple blunders in attempting to pass the Value Added Tax (VAT) Bill, increasing the taxation rates in recent months.

“We have another 55 days for the budget, and as the Finance Minister, I get harassed, by nobody else than the IMF,” Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake told a recent forum in Colombo.

An IMF mission which was in the country last week said that not legislating the VAT Bill soon would threaten the continuation of the 3-year US$ 1.5 billion Extended Fund Facility which started this June and which Sri Lanka is depending on to correct its balance of payments issues.

The attempt to legislate the VAT rate increase through the Cabinet this June had resulted in the Joint Opposition filing a fundamental rights petition at the Supreme Court, which ruled that the VAT amendments were not constitutional, since they were not passed through parliament.

Karunanayake had then drafted another VAT Bill last month, which got cabinet approval this month to go to parliament. However, the Joint Opposition pointed out that the legislation was published through Government Gazette earlier than it was approved by the cabinet, which was also illegal.

The government had planned to increase VAT rates from 11 percent to 15 percent in order to shore up the budget deficit which had spun out of control to 7.4 percent of gross domestic product in 2015 due to unsustainable public sector wage increases, compared to a projected deficit of 4.4 percent.

The IMF funding, as well as further funding from other multilateral organizations such as the Asian Development Bank, are dependent on massive fiscal policy reforms the government has to fulfil within certain periods of time.

Karunanayake has recently been seen visiting all parts of the country collecting proposals for the upcoming budget from the people, and he was quoted saying that the new budget would be revolutionary.

However, past trends may be witnessed again, judging from the promises made by Karunanayake at recent forum to large businesses that protectionism and concessions would continue, despite the lack of fiscal space to enact them.

Sri Lankan budgets since independence had focused on giving election goodies instead of the required fiscal policy tightening, which, together with loose monetary policy had led the country to short cycles of boom and bust.

The IMF however noted that recent months had seen greater fiscal and monetary discipline in the country. This is possibly a side-effect of the appointment of Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy as the Central Bank Governor, who has acted pre-emptively to weigh down threats.

Meanwhile, the IMF too appeared to have acted pre-emptively, setting an appointment one hour earlier than they intended to show up, probably in order to account for the always late Karunanayake, who in this instance had arrived on time.

Karunanayake said that he had contemplated blowing off the meeting with the late IMF delegation, but decided on the contrary.

“I’m sorry I was late. Working to time is essential. They (IMF) were supposed to come at 10.30 in order to make me come on time, but they came at 11.15. So either I had to come late here or tell the IMF to go home,” he said. (Chandeepa Wettasinghe)

 

Video by Wickrema


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  Comments - 21

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  • Seven Stars Monday, 26 September 2016 03:41 PM

    You can resign if it is unbearable via DM Android App

    Reader Tuesday, 27 September 2016 09:04 AM

    Blunders of Ravi created this situation.

    ET Monday, 26 September 2016 08:45 PM

    Why not increase exports by Rs. 1.5 billion or reduce impprts by the same amoint.? Tea or rubber plantations can do this quite easily. Specially rubber, if we encourage use of rain guards production can be doubled. Reducing rubber latex imports by more than Rs. 1 billion or so. Ravi u are a baby trying to walk, pl give up finance get something u can handle. Let Eran or Dr. Harsha take it on.

    Gihan De Saram Monday, 26 September 2016 08:17 PM

    Even Ravi fails there are so many capable people in the cabinet to handle Finance Ministry. Therefore we do not want Mahinda back.

    Lal Monday, 26 September 2016 07:55 PM

    They were trying to rebuilt the economy destroyed by MR but their inability to take clear decisions made it worse

    Lal Monday, 26 September 2016 07:54 PM

    IMF is only their to save countries in debt trap however the country needs to increase tax revenue so it doesnt fall to debt trap again

    Citizen Monday, 26 September 2016 07:16 PM

    He is not fit for the job

    Cheekie Monday, 26 September 2016 07:15 PM

    Always the victim.

    Selvyn Monday, 26 September 2016 05:02 PM

    The comments what we see here are prejudice and blown out of context.To make the ends meet is an herculean task via DM Android App

    Sam Monday, 26 September 2016 04:24 PM

    Is it the reason the previous regime opted to Chinese loans?

    anura Monday, 26 September 2016 04:01 PM

    denna oka lamayekuta

    Pradeep Monday, 26 September 2016 01:31 PM

    He is baba

    kaboos Monday, 26 September 2016 03:06 PM

    Dear Ravi what are your consultants doing?

    dhanu Monday, 26 September 2016 02:59 PM

    obviously! unsustainable public sector wage increment was the main reason for this mess. our economy does not resist its impact. what a mess!

    ross Monday, 26 September 2016 02:49 PM

    If you think you can do far better service for the country. just realize it.

    Namalbabba Monday, 26 September 2016 02:31 PM

    After the 2015 election budget. This is not a surprised.you ruined the economy.

    Dumbo Monday, 26 September 2016 02:28 PM

    Some one has to hound/harass Ravi. He has no credibility as the Finance Minister. UNP should think of changing him otherwise the party will be booted out of power because of his antics in all spheres.

    Reader Monday, 26 September 2016 02:17 PM

    Fault lies with Ravi who imposed VAT without getting proper approval following the required procedure at least PM should have seen this in advance. JO capitalised and got a court ruling upsetting VAT collection.

    Thanos Monday, 26 September 2016 02:06 PM

    You have no right to use the word "harassed". If you want IMF money, then you have to meet their conditions. If you can't do it, then please resign.

    Dinesh Monday, 26 September 2016 01:44 PM

    Another failure of UNP.proclaimed to be the best of best.

    rosebud Monday, 26 September 2016 01:31 PM

    Ravi - if you cannot do the job please resign and allow a more competent person to handle it. via DM Android App


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