By Chaturanga Pradeep, Indika Sri Aravinda
National Languages and Social Integration, Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara yesterday said that they were going to submit proposals to the president for the greater benefit of civil society.
One proposal was to reduce the price of five essential food items in the market for low income earners and provide them as rations. “Those earning less than Rs.30, 000 a month could be considered to be poor and we have calculated that a family of four would need a monthly salary of Rs.45, 000 at least to survive,” the minister said.Another proposal was to create an atmosphere for the government and the Tamil National Alliance to reach an agreement that would help to build national harmony and unity.
Additionally, the funds allocated for the education and health sectors should be doubled. They pointed out that the government could enhance their income by increasing taxes on certain sectors which presently was 25 to 30 per cent, down from a percentage of forty-five that was charged earlier. He pointed out that this only be achieved if they increased the taxes charged from big businesses and by taxing the companies engaged in the stock market.
We propose that there should be a separate mechanism to encourage and maintain foreign investments in Sri Lanka