Minister Samantha Vidyarathna says Sri Lankans no longer believe taxes are stolen, insisting public funds are now used responsibly. Claims major tax cuts and transparency have changed perceptions.
Taxes Are Not to Oppress Anymore ; People Know Their Money Is Used for Good, Says Minister Vidyarathna
Minister of Plantation Industries and Estate Infrastructure, Samantha Vidyarathna, has emphasized that taxation is essential for national progress and insists that the people have begun to understand its importance beyond political rhetoric.
Speaking to the media following a recent ceremony, the Minister acknowledged past failures but drew a clear contrast between former administrations and the current government. He admitted that public frustration had stemmed from years of misuse and misappropriation of collected taxes, which many citizens viewed as legalized theft.
“There was a time when people believed taxes were simply a way for governments to steal from them. That perception was not baseless,” Vidyarathna said. “What happened in the past was indeed tax theft.”
However, according to him, this sentiment is now changing. He asserted that the public increasingly sees tax revenue being directed toward people-centric projects, welfare, and infrastructure, rather than being funneled into corrupt hands.
“The people now realize that taxes are not meant to oppress, but to uplift,” he noted. “They have seen significant reductions in unnecessary taxes during recent months. That too has helped build trust.”
Vidyarathna credited the current administration’s efforts in transparency and fiscal accountability for the shift in public perception, claiming that these efforts have begun restoring confidence in the tax system.
He concluded by stating that while taxation may not be popular, it is necessary and when handled with integrity, it earns public respect.
