Pasbage Korale – April 24: Minister of Agriculture K.D. Lal Kantha asserted that even a “tax on taxes” could be considered a legitimate revenue strategy at the local level, stressing the importance of empowering clean and efficient local governments to strengthen the nation as a whole.
Speaking at a public rally in the Dekida division of Pasbage Korale, held under the theme “Jaya Niyatayi Gama Apatay” (Victory is Certain, the Village is Ours), Lal Kantha said the National People’s Power (NPP) would reinforce the central government’s mission through upcoming local government elections. The event was organized in support of NPP candidates contesting for local government institutions in Nawalapitiya, under the patronage of Kandy District MP Thushari Jayasinghe and Minister Lal Kantha.
Echoing recent remarks by the President, the Minister said, “We are now earning state revenue through tremendous sacrifices. We have pledged that not even a single rupee will be wasted on theft, corruption, fraud, or extravagance.”
He stressed that local governments must reflect the same principles. “If a Pradeshiya Sabha becomes a breeding ground for corruption, then the central government has every right not to fund such councils. The only way forward is to establish clean, efficient governance at the village level.”
Lal Kantha highlighted that local councils have considerable authority to manage their own finances. “They can increase or decrease taxes, expand revenue streams, and even levy new types of taxes, such as a dog tax on pets kept within council boundaries,” he said. “If necessary, even a tax on taxes can be introduced to secure revenue—so long as it is done transparently and legally.”
Turning to social concerns, Lal Kantha noted the recent resurgence of ethnic and religious tensions, blaming “various forces” for stoking division. Addressing this issue, MP Thushari Jayasinghe stated that the Compass—the symbol of the NPP—does not recognize communal politics.
“There is no division within the Compass. We are one movement. We do not win votes by dividing people. And if the central government rejects communalism, so should our village councils,” she said.
Jayasinghe also shared that during a recent court visit, she met public servants who expressed their gratitude for the basic salary increase—a reform long fought for by the NPP. “Thanks to that victory, which came after years of struggle, it is now clear that no other party but the Compass will earn the trust or votes of public sector employees.”
As the May 6 local government elections approach, Lal Kantha and Jayasinghe’s message was clear: economic self-sufficiency, anti-corruption, and social unity must begin at the grassroots level—and the Compass is the vehicle to make that vision a reality.
