Northeners freed from LTTE taxes - Minister Felix Perera

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Felix Perera said yesterday in Parliament that the Government had redeemed the people of the North from paying taxes through extortion by the defeat of the LTTE.

Speaking on the Nation Building Tax in Parliament yesterday the Minister said the LTTE collected Rs. 5 million from illegal taxes each month from the people who used the A-9 Road.

He said today we are discussing the Nation Building Tax Bill proposed by the 2009 budget. A large number of infrastructure facilities in the North and East have been destroyed due to the LTTE terrorist activities. Therefore, this is a very timely Bill moved to develop those infrastructure facilities. The LTTE charged huge taxes from the people.

A country cannot be run without taxes. At present the UNP talks about fuel prices. The Government has given the benefits of the reduction of the world oil prices to the consumers. Today the Government has freed the people of Jaffna from taxes. If we want to develop the country, steps should be taken to develop its infrastructure facilities. Once the Eastern Province was liberated from the clutches of the LTTE, the Government introduced an accelerated programme to the East. The Government will introduce this same programme to the North as well. Under the leadership of the President, the Government has achieved a great victory in Kilinochchi. Now we are in the process of building the economy. Steps should be taken to eradicate terrorism from the country.

The Government has been compelled to impose various taxes to cover up its unnecessary expenses, UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake said in Parliament yesterday.

He said it was unable to fulfill even a single pledge made to the people in 2008. The politicising of economic affairs have let down the country. Finally, all these burdens will be shouldered by the ordinary people of this country.

Ranaweera Pathirana (JVP): The Government has moved this Bill to create the necessary legal framework to impose this tax. The Government is totally dependent on tax income.

Ultimately, the consumers have to shoulder all these taxes with the introduction of this tax, the prices of the imported items will be increased by one per cent. It will also lead to an increase in the prices of the local goods as well. The Government intends to recover Rs. 15,000 million through the imposition of this one per cent tax. The Nation Building Ministry looks like a rest house. If any Opposition MP crosses over to the Government, he will be offered this Nation Building Ministry portfolio.

When the heroic Armed Forces liberated Kilinochchi, the President said this is a victory achieved by the entire nation. We are a people friendly Government. We have done a lot of work for the welfare of the people. The UNP is trying to obstruct the affairs of the Government to tarnish the image of the Government.

The Nation Building Tax Bill was passed with amendments.