Excessive taxation will not increase state revenue as intended - Namal

By Yohan Perera
Excessive taxation will not increase state revenue as intended nor will it mete out justice to the people, SLPP Presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa said.   
“One has to come up with more effective ways to increase state revenue instead. It is not possible to increase state revenue by selling state assets,” Mr. Rajapaksa told a rally in Bandarawela.   

“It was former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who ensured that produce of farmers in Bandarawela and Haputale goes into the market. No one saw concrete roads before 2005. All those infrastructure facilities were developed by Mr. Rajapaksa. He had a vision and a plan to undertake development work. However this programme was stopped after 2015. We are duty bound to restart this programme. We have presented to people ‘Namal Dekema’ (Namal’s vision) to fulfill this duty,” he said.   
“We have a vision to develop the nation. We will bring technology for cultivation of crops. We also intend to reduce interest rates and to reduce unemployment,” he added.   
“I don’t know whether development was intentionally stopped after 2015. However we shall begin from where my father stopped. My intention is to make Sri Lanka one of the most developed nations. It is essential to allow the youth to take up professions which they want according to their qualifications. We shall provide training for the youth to fulfill these aspirations. We shall also change the recruitment process of public servants. We shall therefore end the system of youth going behind politicians to get jobs in the state sector,” he also said.