COLOMBO:Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organizer and Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa stated that the government has increased fuel taxes beyond previous levels, ultimately placing the financial burden squarely on the public.
He made these remarks during a discussion with a group of parliamentarians in Parliament.
Elaborating further, Rajapaksa highlighted the growing cost of living, noting that while the government claimed to offer minor relief, fuel prices continue to rise due to increased taxation.
“The promise was to provide fuel at the landed import cost and to eliminate commissions. They pledged to reduce the practical fuel tax currently in place. Instead, they have increased fuel taxes beyond what they originally were, leaving the public to suffer the consequences,” Rajapaksa said.
He further pointed out that the rising costs of milk powder and other essential food items have drastically inflated the overall cost of living, while wages remain stagnant.
Addressing claims by government ministers regarding the absence of queues, Rajapaksa asserted that discussions and visual evidence of fuel and gas shortages remain prevalent in rural and urban areas alike.
“What is the government’s solution to this? Is it to impose yet another new tax, or to rely on their usual routine of conducting investigations under the guise of catching thieves? Are they trying to suppress the opposition and the public by fabricating false evidence? Whenever the government faces a problem, their only response is to imprison someone,” he added.
Rajapaksa criticized the administration’s performance, stating that over the past two and a half years, no effective programme has been implemented to control the cost of living, reduce educational expenses for schoolchildren, or strengthen household economies.
He also noted that while reported inflation has crossed 8%, the actual financial strain on families continues to escalate month by month.