Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the NPP presidential candidate, says the 18% VAT levied on food, health, and education will be removed completely under a National People’s Power government.
He stated this yesterday (18) while addressing the presidential campaign rally held under the theme “Rata Anurata” in Kiribathgoda.
Speaking further, he said that it is not fair to ask a citizen to pay taxes when he is hungry, to ask a citizen to pay taxes when he is sick, and to ask a citizen to pay taxes while teaching his children.
Therefore, he said the current 18% VAT tax that citizens have to pay for food that quenches hunger, medicine for illness, and educational equipment for children will be reduced to 0%.
He said that some people are questioning how the government will get revenue, and it has been found that Rs. 1100000 of taxes have been unsettled so far, and Rs. 169000 million of which there are no legal proceedings can be collected at the beginning.
He further pointed out that the VAT that can be collected from food, health, and education in four years through the existing taxes is less than the amount of tax evasion.
