Gammanpila blames anti-people policies for worsening situation

The economy is very likely to contract in 2024 due to government policies and it is unlikely that the authorities will be able to collect the expected revenue from VAT, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader, Udaya Gammanpila said on Thursday.

“The government doesn’t seem to understand that their policies will shrink the economy. When someone critiques their disastrous policies, they claim the IMF made them do it. This is an excuse to hide the fact that they are anti-people,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) dissident MP, Dayasiri Jayasekera said that the 18 percent VAT will be disastrous for the people and industrialists in Sri Lanka.

“Everything from children’s nutrition to agriculture will suffer. The government is fleecing professionals and honest businessmen, while the corrupt billionaires slip through the tax net,” he said.In response, Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardena said that people must swallow bitter pills before the country recovers from the economic crisis. (RK)