President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that the government has reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to revise the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax, a significant concern for the public. He assured that following further discussions, relief measures would be implemented as soon as possible.
"With the appreciation of the rupee, the cost of goods can be reduced, allowing us to provide relief to the people. This is the path we must follow," the President said.
"Currently, income tax has become a significant issue. We have reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the need to revise it, and I can confirm that a basic decision has already been made. Both parties have submitted proposals, and once we have discussed and agreed on a common approach, we will be able to provide relief to the public."
The President made these remarks while addressing the "Puluwan Sri Lanka" victory rally held near the new market in Eheliyagoda yesterday afternoon (28).
He criticized Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake for making unrealistic promises about reducing taxes and easing the people's burdens. He cautioned that following their proposed path could lead to severe shortages, leaving the public once again without essential supplies such as gas, fuel, and medicine.