We will support the government to pass the budget: Patali Champika

COLOMBO (News 1st) - UNF MP Patali Champika Ranawaka stated that the government hoped to reduce the cost of living and ease the burden on the general public by reducing the VAT and other tax concessions, however, the prices of the goods have spiralled out of control now. He added that now the President has to visit himself to control the market and this is not a change in the system. He further added that all the main development projects have been suspended until August, he added that there is no point in blaming the government and they would support the government in passing a budget at any time. He went on to note that due to tax concessions the government had lost over Rs 600bn. Journalist: The economy of the country was affected due to the Bond scam that occurred during your regime? Patali Champika Ranawaka: "There would have been an impact caused on the country's economy but the forensic audit of the Central bank showed that this had been happening even before that. We ask for that forensic audit to be presented. I would also like to say that this government will be signing the MCC agreement after the general election. If not we ask them to clearly state that they will not sign it. Also the fuel pricing formula, they were laughing about it.  Why are they implementing the fuel pricing formulae now? They are implementing it to fulfil the conditions of the IMF. The International Monetary Fund is reviewing the situation in the country since March. They are implementing the fuel pricing formula because they are scared that the IMF will leave Sri Lanka if the fuel pricing formula is removed."

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