Mini Budget to ease tax burden on consumers

The mini Budget to be presented in Parliament next week will ensure easing the tax burden on consumers and certain proposals to reduce the prices of 10 essential commodities, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said.

It also proposes to increase the salaries of public servants.

“On the instructions of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe we are putting an end to corruption and mismanagement in the Treasury, he said adding that the end of corruption in government establishments will ensure better economic conditions for people.

Minister Champika Ranawaka said the Government will present the mini budget with the resources available and it will replace former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s budget presented in November 2014.

“We will show how the previous government hoodwinked people by juggling figures. What was given, was taken back by way of taxes on essential commodities. This will be exposed in Parliament on January 29, he said.

The mini budget will be presented by the Finance Minister in Parliament on January 29 and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is due to make a brief statement on the day.