The Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, today’s Bill aims to strengthen the economy and national production, and thereby uplift workers—estate workers, farmers—as well as consumers and traders. The core of this is VAT reform. For any nation seeking stability, sovereignty, and fiscal autonomy, taxation is the principal tool. In that sense, this Bill is welcome.

¶ 02 In the past, many cronies of those in power failed to pay due taxes, while ordinary people paid and even faced jail if they did not. We know of high-profile cases—such as Aloysius—where imprisonment flowed from tax and related offences. This Government seeks to regularize tax collection and ensure that exporters, importers, and traders are not cheated by a skewed system.

¶ 03 While we debate VAT, some in the Opposition try to divert with unrelated arguments. Yesterday, an excellent law was passed to hold to account those who amassed wealth improperly and bankrupted the nation. That Bill rightly targets those who betrayed the country.

¶ 04 A country cannot progress without effective tax collection. In previous times, ordinary citizens paid; yet cronies evaded trillions. Now, amid global headwinds—like U.S. tariff policy—the President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has written to U.S. President Donald Trump seeking a review. That is responsible engagement.

¶ 05 Some Members who claim to represent Tamils have preferred lofty rhetoric and even used abusive words, rather than working with the people to identify problems and offer plans to uplift the economy. They should stop trading in social media slander and, instead, bring the genuine needs of the North to this House for solution.

¶ 06 Former Eastern Province Chief Minister and State Minister Pillayan has been arrested. Many Tamil intellectuals—such as Prof. S. Sittampalam (Tampaiya)—have been victims of enforced disappearances. Pillayan is now arrested as an alleged mastermind of 1990 incidents; yet he himself was once a child recruit of the LTTE and later associated with the Rajapaksa-Ranil camp, being implicated in abductions and disappearances. What plans did such leaders present for rebuilding the East after the war? Very few.

¶ 07 This tax Bill is welcome even if there are imperfections; it is crucial for economic rebuilding. During Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tenure, Rs. 6 billion was allocated to the Eastern Province, but the EPDP alleged it was handled by Namal Rajapaksa’s “Nil Balakaya.” Those who should have rebuilt the East aligned with that outfit. Going forward, Eastern MPs and all, including those aligned to such groups, should bring substantive proposals here for the East’s development.

¶ 08 Thank you.