• It is good to expand the tax regime. We should adopt the US policy of making every working person pay taxes and providing concessions to those who deserve it

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Rajitha Senaratne over the weekend welcomed key proposals of the budget while proposing a few minor amendments. 

Speaking during the second reading debate on the budget, Dr Senaratne welcomed the government’s tax policy, decision to adopt social market economy, providing facilities to 1000 schools, land policy and the decision to look at cannabis plantation.

He also welcomed the restructuring of state owned enterprises.

“ I proposed the cultivation of cannabis during the Yahapalana government. However, the then President said it was against Sri Lankan culture. However Sri Lankans used cannabis before the colonial era where the British promoted tobacco cultivation banning the growing of cannabis,” he said.

He also blamed the former President Maithripala Sirisena for preventing the then government from distributing tabs to school children. “ The education of school children would not have been affected during the pandemic if tabs were given to school children during the time it was proposed,” the MP said in this regard.

“It is good to expand the tax regime. We should adopt the US policy of making every working person pay taxes and providing concessions to those who deserve it. However the budget has proposed to levy direct taxes from everyone who is earning more than 100,000 per month. Labour law reforms are also welcome but a person should be taken care for a year at least till he gets another job. The budget had proposed taking care of a person for three months if he loses a job and still gets a new one. This is not enough,” he said.