The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim. Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity to speak on the Order under the Stamp Duty (Special Provisions) Act and the regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act.

¶ 02 Through these two measures, the Government has made arrangements to advance development projects. The entire increased stamp duty revenue accrues to local authorities. After coming to power, this Government introduced for the first time a plan to develop local authorities whereby those councils themselves pay the salaries of their staff. We view this tax increase as part of enabling payment of local authority staff salaries.

¶ 03 From 2025, 20 percent of staff salaries are expected to be paid by the respective local bodies, increasing annually so that in five years the full salary is borne by them. Will the increased stamp duty revenue be sufficient for this? Each year at 20 percent increments, within five years locals must pay full salaries. This is like stroking the head and plucking out the eyes. Local authorities should be entities that, from their area’s revenue, can meet local needs and necessary expenditures. Relying only on this stamp duty increase will make it very difficult to sustain those councils.

¶ 04 Revenue avenues once belonging to local bodies have been shifted to other institutions. Earlier, roads were used by push carts and animal-drawn carts and taxed locally. Now different vehicles ply roads, and the taxes go via Divisional Secretariats to the Central Government. Why not give that revenue to the local bodies, especially when the Government seeks to improve them? I thank the Government for that intent.

¶ 05 Regarding the recent local authority processes—forming administrations, electing chairmen and vice-chairmen—we see the Government acting contrary to its stated policies and the mandate given by the people. In past elections, people voted for the NPP only because they had faith in President Anura Kumara Dissanayake—not because they trusted any of the 159 Government MPs. Based on that trust, they voted for the NPP. But many of those commitments have not been kept. Over two million people voted against this Government at the local elections, showing diminishing confidence, especially among Muslims whose trust has been wasted. Export and import-related taxes have also increased, including taxes on items domestically produced when imported.

¶ 06 No humane person can accept Israel’s war against Iran. After bombing Palestinians, killing children and pregnant women, Israel has now turned on Iran—egged on by some countries. Sri Lanka has received much from Iran: the Uma Oya multipurpose project was inaugurated here by the then Iranian President on 24 April 2024; it supports power generation and agriculture, and Iran helped us during difficult times with oil on credit and provided arms that helped end the war and safeguard our sovereignty.

¶ 07 Today Iran’s people and economy are suffering from war. Even if Sri Lanka does not speak against Israel, it could at least express support for Iran. By remaining silent, this Government is adopting an anti-Muslim posture. You are distancing the country’s Muslims. Traditionally, when the Speaker’s post falls vacant, the Deputy Speaker is proposed, but that did not happen; likewise with the Chief Justice appointment; and there is no Muslim in the Cabinet.

¶ 08 Also, a brother was arrested under the PTA for merely pasting a sticker against Israel; many in this Parliament shouted against it, but were ignored. Recently, the UN Human Rights Committee said the arrest was wrong and ordered Rs. 200,000 compensation. Only Muslim Opposition MPs spoke here against that injustice; others were silent. Yet now they roam day and night seeking out Muslim councillors to form local authority administrations for power. I request the Government to pay greater attention to Muslim issues and support them, with consideration in development and other matters. Thank you.