Mon, May 27, 2013, 12:50 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.![]()
May 26, Colombo: It seems that the Sri Lankan government has received the appreciation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for raising electricity tariffs, a main opposition parliamentarian making a tongue-in-cheek comment said.
At a media briefing Sunday, main opposition United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian and economist Dr. Harsha de Silva said that although the IMF predicts next year's economic growth rate to be 6.8 percent, Sri Lanka's Central Bank says it will grow by 8.3 percent.
According to the Fiscal Management Act, the government has to present the records of its borrowings to parliament by June 30, the MP pointed out.
He accused the government of concealing the records of borrowing without presenting to parliament and added that the UNP is ready to take action against it.
He stressed that parliament is the sole authority on government's financial matters and the public has a right to know how their money is spent, the MP said.
The lawmaker noted that the inflation has risen now and the economic growth has slowed down to 6.4 percent now.
Speaking of the hike in electricity rates, the parliamentarian asked why the government levies only a small tax on casinos when other countries in the world levy high taxes on casino industry.
May 26, Colombo: It seems that the Sri Lankan government has received the appreciation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for raising electricity tariffs, a main opposition parliamentarian making a tongue-in-cheek comment said.
At a media briefing Sunday, main opposition United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian and economist Dr. Harsha de Silva said that although the IMF predicts next year's economic growth rate to be 6.8 percent, Sri Lanka's Central Bank says it will grow by 8.3 percent.
According to the Fiscal Management Act, the government has to present the records of its borrowings to parliament by June 30, the MP pointed out.
He accused the government of concealing the records of borrowing without presenting to parliament and added that the UNP is ready to take action against it.
He stressed that parliament is the sole authority on government's financial matters and the public has a right to know how their money is spent, the MP said.
The lawmaker noted that the inflation has risen now and the economic growth has slowed down to 6.4 percent now.
Speaking of the hike in electricity rates, the parliamentarian asked why the government levies only a small tax on casinos when other countries in the world levy high taxes on casino industry.