Govt. turns down request 

• Gunawardena said President Ranil Wickremesinghe had revealed this IMF proposal to the cabinet on Monday

By Sandun A. Jayasekera 

Government spokesman, Minister Bandula Gunawardena said yesterday that the IMF has instructed the Sri Lankan government to tax all those who draw a salary or a monthly income of over Rs. 45,000 but this proposal has not been accepted by the government.    

Gunawardena said that the government will maintain its policy of imposing taxes only on those who earn a monthly income of Rs.100,000 or more.   

Gunawardena said President Ranil Wickremesinghe had revealed this IMF proposal to the cabinet on Monday.   

“I disclose this to you to explain the difficulties faced by the government on a daily basis. The simple theory is that our expenditure is more than double the income. But we have to import essential food commodities, drugs, oil and gas, raw material for the industry notwithstanding our severe financial constraints.