Courtesy Hiru News

President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that the government has reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to revise the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax, a significant concern for the public. He assured that following further discussions, relief measures would be implemented as soon as possible. The President made these remarks while addressing the “Puluwan Sri Lanka” victory rally held near the new market in Eheliyagoda this afternoon (28).

The rally, organized to affirm President Wickremesinghe’s candidacy in the upcoming presidential election, saw a large turnout from the Eheliyagoda area. During his speech, the President emphasized the government’s awareness of the challenges faced by the citizens and stressed the importance of providing relief while safeguarding the country’s economy. He warned that if the economy were to collapse, there would be no country left for people to live in.

Furthermore, the President criticized Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake for making unrealistic promises about reducing taxes and easing the people’s burdens. He cautioned that following their proposed path could lead to severe shortages, leaving the public once again without essential supplies such as gas, fuel, and medicine.

Expressing his views further, the President said: I have previously visited Eheliyagoda and held meetings where the focus was often on blaming and criticizing one another. However, today, we stand united on the same platform, having chosen to come together to save our country. When we faced a crisis with shortages of gas, medicine, and financial resources, we worked collectively to rebuild the nation. Unfortunately, the Jana Balawegaya, led by my friend Mr. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, led by my former deputy Mr. Sajith Premadasa, chose not to join us. They accused us of coming together for personal gain. This highlights a fundamental difference between us: while they prioritize their party interests, we remain committed to the country and its people.

I am running in this year’s presidential election to seek a public mandate to continue the efforts we have made over the past two years to rebuild the country. There are two main political forces in this country, and although they may move quickly, they fail to grasp the struggles of the people. In contrast, we understand these struggles, which is why we have worked to stabilize the economy. Over the last two years, we have systematically reduced prices and provided relief to the public. However, we recognize that the people deserve even more support. This additional relief can only be achieved by strengthening the rupee and gradually advancing the economy.

With the appreciation of the rupee, the cost of goods can be reduced, allowing us to provide relief to the people. This is the path we must follow. Currently, income tax has become a significant issue. We have reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the need to revise it, and I can confirm that a basic decision has already been made. Both parties have submitted proposals, and once we have discussed and agreed on a common approach, we will be able to provide relief to the public.

As President, my mandate is to strengthen the country’s economy and reduce the cost of living for our citizens. We aim to provide relief through tax reforms and cost-of-living adjustments. Additionally, we are focused on creating employment opportunities for young people and accelerating Sri Lanka’s development to build a robust economy. I will outline this vision in my manifesto, which will be presented tomorrow.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Sajith Premadasa have recently claimed that they will reduce taxes and provide relief to the public. However, we must ask: is it truly possible to lower taxes and still offer relief? Lowering taxes would decrease government revenue, making it difficult to manage expenses and potentially increasing inflation. If revenues decline while expenses rise, the economy risks collapsing again. Therefore, Mr. Dissanayake and Mr. Premadasa must explain how they intend to sustain the economy under these conditions. People need to recognize that the path they propose could lead to a situation where essential resources, such as gas, fuel, and medicine, are unavailable. I urge everyone to consider this carefully.