The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, in today’s debate on the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill, I urge the Government not to keep piling taxes upon taxes, increasing the burden on the poor. Instead, increase domestic production, promote and attract investments, expand exports and earn foreign exchange to drive development. When you raise taxes, prices of goods and services rise and the poor suffer most. Small industries, small and medium investors are particularly affected. Can you safeguard the country merely by imposing taxes?

¶ 02 These measures are being taken under programme conditions to increase tax revenue, but in truth they burden our people without offering permanent solutions. Only by increasing production and investment under a sound framework can we earn foreign exchange through exports.

¶ 03 The rupee’s value has fallen; the dollar is around Rs. 337 now. Fuel prices are very high. If these rise further, we face a deep crisis. Protect the people. While you have done some good things, please ensure measures are taken in the people’s interest.

¶ 04 Government and private sector salaries were increased, but prices of goods and services have risen far more. So you must raise wages further; people are badly hit. The poor remain poor; the middle class remains stuck. There is no system enabling upward mobility.

¶ 05 Higher taxes and fuel prices also hit farmers. Not only in Ampara but across the country, farmers suffer. Fertilizer prices are very high—urea is around Rs. 16,000 a bag—yet paddy yields are low and paddy prices are around Rs. 7,000–7,500 per bag. There is also a shortage of fertilizer during planting. Fisherfolk too are suffering. You should announce a paddy guaranteed price and protect farmers, the backbone of this nation. I conclude with that plea.