KANDY, September 10, 2024 – In a fiery speech at a public rally in Kandy, Patali Champika Ranawaka, a prominent leader of the United National Front (UNF), promised that Sajith Premadasa, the presidential candidate of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), will remove taxes on fuel and electricity immediately upon taking office. Ranawaka outlined a comprehensive plan to provide economic relief and bring about a digital revolution in Sri Lanka, stating that the burden placed on citizens by current government policies will be lifted.
Fuel Taxes Slashed, Petrol and Diesel to Drop in Price
Ranawaka sharply criticized the current administration, particularly President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s handling of the country’s economy post-bankruptcy. He accused Wickremesinghe of heavily taxing basic goods, including fuel, and driving up costs for ordinary citizens.
“Today, petrol is imported to Sri Lanka at Rs. 195 but is sold to the public at Rs. 327. Similarly, diesel, which is imported at Rs. 201, is being sold for Rs. 307. The difference is nothing but Ranil’s taxes,” Ranawaka stated. He promised that, under a Sajith Premadasa administration, these taxes would be scrapped, bringing fuel prices down to their true cost—Rs. 195 for petrol and Rs. 201 for diesel.
Economic Burdens on Citizens to Be Lifted
Ranawaka also blamed the government’s taxation policies for increasing the cost of essential goods, such as milk powder, sugar, bread, and flour. He estimated that in the past eight months, each household had paid Rs. 20,000 more on these basic needs due to heavy taxation.
Under Premadasa’s leadership, Ranawaka pledged, the government would prioritize providing relief to citizens, particularly by removing taxes on electricity and fuel. “We will lift the burden of these taxes that have been placed on your heads. This is not just a promise; we have done this before,” he said, recalling that the SJB had previously abolished fuel and electricity taxes during their tenure under Maithripala Sirisena’s administration. “We will do it again, and this time with even greater relief,” he added.
Welfare Promises: Rs. 20,000 for Every Poor Family
Ranawaka also laid out the SJB’s broader welfare program, which includes providing Rs. 20,000 to every poor family in Sri Lanka. He emphasized that this financial assistance would directly reach the people through a streamlined and digitized system, ensuring efficiency and transparency.
A Digital Revolution: Simplifying Lives and Fighting Corruption
One of the key pillars of Sajith Premadasa’s election platform is a comprehensive digital transformation of Sri Lanka. Ranawaka announced plans to bring all essential documents, such as ID cards, driver’s licenses, deeds, and bank account information, into a centralized digital system accessible via mobile phones.
“We are creating an era where all transactions—paying fines, bills, or receiving financial assistance—can be done through your phone,” he explained. “No longer will people need to chase after banks or Samurdhi officers. Instead, Rs. 20,000 will be sent straight to your phone, and you can spend it directly at the store.”
In addition to convenience, Ranawaka argued that this digital infrastructure would help tackle tax evasion and expose money hidden by smugglers and other criminal elements. He stressed that by digitizing transactions, the SJB would be able to track and bring out the hidden wealth of the smugglers, doubling the country’s revenue.
Protecting Professionals and Reducing Taxes on High Earners
Addressing concerns raised by the professional community, Ranawaka noted that the SJB had successfully reduced the tax rate from 36% to 24% at the request of professionals. Premadasa’s economic plan also includes safeguarding the interests of professionals by introducing more favorable tax policies, aimed at reversing the “brain drain” that has seen many skilled Sri Lankans leaving the country.
The Path Ahead: A Choice Between Prosperity or Ruin
Ranawaka framed the upcoming presidential election as a critical juncture for the future of Sri Lanka. “What you have on the 21st is not a contest to elect a president for five years. It is a choice between bringing prosperity to the next generation or bankrupting this country again,” he said. He warned that a vote for the current leadership would lead Sri Lanka back into a dark era like 2022, while a vote for Sajith Premadasa represents a path forward.
Ranawaka’s Criticism of Rivals
Ranawaka did not shy away from attacking both President Wickremesinghe and NPP candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake. He accused Wickremesinghe of protecting the country’s elite smugglers while imposing heavy taxes on the poor. “Ranil
Wickremesinghe has taxed everything: milk powder, sugar, fuel, electricity—he has only imposed taxes on the ordinary people while turning a blind eye to the smuggling class that profits from fraud and drug trade,” Ranawaka said. He claimed that Wickremesinghe’s government had burdened the working class with domestic debt restructuring while protecting the interests of the wealthy.
He also took aim at Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of the NPP, criticizing his narrative of a “76-year curse” and stating that Dissanayake benefitted from the very free education and healthcare systems established in Sri Lanka’s post-independence era. “Anura Dissanayake went to school for free. He received free education, like all of us, and yet now he talks about a 76-year curse. We are the generation that built this country, not the ones who destroyed it,” Ranawaka remarked.
Ranawaka concluded his speech by emphasizing that Sajith Premadasa and the SJB are the only team capable of bringing about true economic relief, digital transformation, and a prosperous future for Sri Lanka. “Anura Dissanayake cannot bring this era, and neither can Ranil Wickremesinghe. The team that will deliver this new era of peace and prosperity is here, with Samagi Jana Balawegaya,” he declared, urging voters to support Premadasa in the upcoming election.
With promises of reducing taxes, digitizing the economy, protecting professionals, and providing welfare for the poorest citizens, Premadasa’s campaign is positioning itself as a comprehensive solution to the current economic crisis.
