A one-year grace period that has been proposed by NDF Presidential candidate Minister Sajith Premadasa for those who are in the blacklist for having failed to repay their microloans less than Rs. one million is an excellent move, said former UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake yesterday.
He was addressing a press briefing at the NDF election operations centre in Vauxhall Street.
“This is a commendable proposal as many face difficulties due to microloans they have obtained. Within the one-year provided, people will be able to regain the deprived financial status. Citizens are also facing the tax burden where 80 percent of our taxes are indirect taxes on goods and services. The NDF manifesto focuses on direct taxes while indirect taxes will be reduced,” he said.
For a country to move forward there must be a long-term vision. If any agreements have been signed or are to be signed internationally, Sajith Premadasa will have second thoughts before entering into them. Any kind of agreement which will deface the country will not be followed by Sajith Premadasa.
SLPP Presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa says not to enter into any agreements with Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC), yet he himself has not yet stated that he will not enter into any international agreement. Gotabaya Rajapakse must give his stance on these agreements, he said.
Attanayake further said that he does not have any grudge with Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe, his only intention was to clear the ground and give a suitable position to Sajith Premadasa. “Recently too I had discussions with the Premier regarding Sajith’s election campaign. We are working for the victory of a party, not a family,” he added.
He said that the coming days are not decisive as the NDF Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa is far ahead of the SLPP candidate in the Presidential race.
from daily news