The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition

¶ 01 Does the Government know this? If so, will the Government implement a simple procedure to obtain refunds of withholding tax? If not, why?

¶ 02 04. Is withholding tax charged on children’s savings accounts? If so, what is the method to reclaim the tax withheld? Are children’s deposits not exempt from withholding tax? If not, why?

¶ 03 05. Many senior citizens today are leading extremely difficult lives. Under the previous Good Governance Administration, a 15 percent interest rate was granted for senior citizens’ deposits at least up to deposits less than Rs. 2 million. Why cannot that be reintroduced? Not only the Good Governance Government, but many governments in the past provided this percentage. It was abolished during the previous Government.

¶ 04 06. Is there a mechanism for senior citizens to obtain medicines from state pharmacies at concessional prices? Could such a concession also be made available through private pharmacies? If not, why?

¶ 05 Hon. Speaker, let me point out: looking at the prevailing interest rates, at Bank of Ceylon the fixed deposit rate for two years is 7.5 percent. The Government has proposed to provide an additional 3 percent. Accordingly, at 10.5 percent, some income stream is to be provided to senior citizens. We say this is not sufficient. It must certainly be 15 percent, and it should apply at least up to deposits of Rs. 2 million. We expect a compassionate response for senior citizens from the Government at this time.