President directs attention to low direct taxes
In other countries, most of the taxes are collected from a higher income bracket. In 2021, in India – 50% direct tax…Bangladesh – direct tax 32%...Nepal – direct 31%....69%. Indonesia – direct tax 40%...Vietnam – direct tax 31%...Thailand – direct taxes 37%...Malaysia – direct tax 66%...However the situation in our country is different. In 2021, our direct tax was 21% while indirect was 79%. We should take action to rectify this tax divergence. Then, the tax burden on the general public will be reduced.
The government’s policy statement from the President’s Media Division | February 8, 2023
Posted on: 17 February, 2023
True
Patali -True on SL’s uneasy equilibrium, false on fuel bill savings
…the current normalcy in the country is at a low-level equilibrium. This is an uneasy equilibrium.... Our normal [monthly] fuel bill stood at US $ 550 million. It has now been cut down to US $ 200 million…
Daily Mirror | January 12, 2023
Posted on: 13 February, 2023
Partly True
Siyambalapitiya hugely magnifies fiscal difficulties for holding LG elections
In 2022, the government’s revenue and expenditure difference were as high as 256% or Rs. 3,058 billion. [In 2023] The government expect the revenue to be Rs. 3.45 trillion, while the expenditure will go up to Rs. 10 trillion, incurring a deficit of Rs. 6.66 trillion for the year. Thus, financial discipline is indispensable to run the economy.
Daily FT | January 21, 2023
Posted on: 2 February, 2023
False
Minister Wijesekera: Overstates one of the most pessimistic scenarios of the already overstated loss scenarios of the CEB
If we are in a situation where there is no rainfall, provided that we are able to obtain all the coal we need by April, we would be able to provide electricity all 24 hours of the day, without interruptions…That means, as a whole, our generation cost is Rs. 889 billion. From that, we receive only something like Rs. 400 billion.
Parliament Hansard | November 25, 2022
Posted on: 27 January, 2023
Partly True
MP Abeysinghe unrealistic on revenue estimates being unrealistic
…The [2023] budget presented this time is seeking the highest revenue in the entire history of Sri Lanka. Compared to last year, this year’s revenue shows an increase of 70%. In Sri Lanka, at no point has the revenue increased from year to year by more than 10%, 15% or 20%.... In the history of Sri Lanka have we ever generated a revenue figure that is in the range of LKR 3,000 billion? Every year, the revenue generated has been less than LKR 2,000 billion….
Parliament Hansard | November 21, 2022
Posted on: 20 January, 2023
False
MP Ganesan right when he spoke, on the gap between the estate sector and the rest.
Food insecurity in Sri Lanka is highest in the estate sector at 51%, while it is 43% in the urban sector and 34% in the rural sector. The World Bank has reported that the country’s poverty rate has climbed to 26% and is at 53% in the estates.
Daily Mirror | November 21, 2022
Posted on: 12 January, 2023
True
MP Alagiyawanna: It became more ok to breathe in Sri Lanka between 2018 and 2021
In 2018 we ranked 7th in Asia in terms of the countries that pollute the air the most. At present we have improved this to rank 12th [in Asia]. Globally, we ranked 17th [in 2018], and now we have improved this to rank 58th in the world.
Lankadeepa | November 29, 2022
Posted on: 15 December, 2022
True
State minister Siyambalapitiya fails on success of tax collection
We set a target to collect Rs. 915 billion in tax incomes through IRD in 2022. I’m delighted to say that we have been able to achieve 68.4% of this annual target at the end of September, which is in spite of the projected 8.2% contraction of GDP this year.
Daily Mirror | November 4, 2022
Posted on: 8 December, 2022
Partly True
AKD fumbles the numbers on higher malnutrition in Nuwara Eliya
…if you take Sri Lanka as a whole, the prevalence of low birthweight is 12.2% but if you take the Nuwara Eliya hill country community, it is 20%. Generally, in Sri Lanka, 7.4% of children below the age of 5 years suffer from wasting but among the hill country communities, it is 8.2%. Generally, at a national level, the prevalence of stunting is 8.2%; among the hill country communities, it is 17.4%...
Parliament live telecast | November 8, 2022
Posted on: 1 December, 2022
Partly True
Minister Pathirana: Numbers on malnutrition are under-nourished
Malnutrition, which stood at 27.4 percent in 2009, has dropped to 12.2 percent by 2021. This reflects a very clear development in our health sector.
Parliament Hansard | September 7, 2022
Posted on: 24 November, 2022
Partly True