Namal Rajapaksa, Member of Parliament for Hambantota District Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), has asserted that both the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and National People’s Power (NPP) are accountable for the current economic crisis. He emphasized their roles in approving unanimous budgetary tax reductions introduced by the previous government.
Rajapaksa argued that if the country faced bankruptcy due to tax concessions, the SJB and NPP, along with members of the good governance government and JVP supporters, should share the blame.
Highlighting a decline in economic growth from 7% in 2015, when Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated in the Presidential Election, to 2% upon returning to power in 2020, Namal Rajapaksa defended the tax reduction promised by the current government led by Gotabaya Rajapaksa, citing it as a fulfillment of their election manifesto.
Rajapaksa questioned the characterization of tax reduction, in alignment with the given electoral mandate, as a mistake. He pointed out the irony of academics who opposed tax reductions in court, including VAT, and protested against tax increases recommended by the IMF under the current government.
While acknowledging that criticisms of the budget may affect some individuals, Rajapaksa asserted his commitment to pointing out mistakes in any government for the benefit of the people.
Rajapaksa further attributed the current crisis to the silence of Gotabaya Rajapaksa on erroneous decisions, such as the use of organic fertilizers during his tenure. Stressing the importance of learning from mistakes, he pledged not to hesitate in criticizing and pointing out errors, not only regarding the budget but any decision made by the current government.
