By Shamindra Ferdinando

Dissident SLPP MP Prof. Channa Jayasumana yesterday (31 Dec.) said that a well-coordinated joint Opposition campaign was needed against the destructive economic policies of the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government.

Jayasumana said the Opposition should respond to the impending crisis caused by the increase of Value-Added Tax (VAT) from 15% 18% and imposition of 18% VAT on nearly 100 items that hadn’t been subjected to VAT before. The rebel SLPP group consists of 13 MPs, including former ministers Prof. G.L. Peiris and Dallas Alahapperuma, but divided into at least two factions.

Pointing out that the ruling SLPP overwhelmingly voted for the Budget, Prof. Jayasumana said that the Opposition couldn’t absolve itself of the responsibility for building up public movement on the basis of growing public resentment of despicable government economic strategy.

Responding to The Island queries, the internationally renowned medical academic said that implementation of VAT would cause further and significant deterioration of people’s buying power as it would skyrocket the already high cost-of-living.

Referring to a recent media briefing organized by the President’s Media Division (PMD) where the government assured that the new tax regime wouldn’t be as harsh as alleged by various interested parties, Prof. Jayasumana declared that those struggling to make ends meet wouldn’t be able to bear the prices of even the basic consumer items.

Prof. Jayasumana said that the people couldn’t depend on the SLPP to reverse Wickremesinghe’s strategy. “SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, in spite of lamenting over the new tax structure, voted for Wickremesinghe’s budget. The former President was among 122 MPs who endorsed the Appropriation Bill for 2024,” Prof. Jayasumana said, urging the genuine Opposition to build a campaign.

The Anuradhapura District MP said that the rebel SLPP group held talks with the SJB, JVP, Uththara Lanka Sabaghaya also consisting MPs elected and appointed on the SLPP, as well as MP Patali Champika Ranawaka’s Eksath Janaraja Peramuna, to explore ways and means of building up pressure on the government.

Asked whether they discussed the possibility of a common Opposition presidential election candidate, Prof. Jayasumana said that proposed campaign against the government on the economic front shouldn’t be mixed up with the presidential election strategy.

Both the SJB and JVP-led Jathika Jana Balawegaya had declared their leaders Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake would contest the 2024 presidential poll.

Prof. Jayasumana said that Opposition political parties would have to announce concrete plans as regards the forthcoming presidential polls by end of January or early February. An inordinate delay would be counterproductive, the first time entrant to Parliament said, acknowledging that there were significant differences pertaining to the economy among the Opposition parties.

Prof. Jayasumana was among the group of Viyathmaga members elected at the last general election held in Aug 2020.

Responding to another query, the SLPPer said that the government’s thinking that the daunting economic challenges could be addressed by the increase in taxes and privatizing the remaining state assets was entirely flawed. Those who touted the IMF formula as the panacea for all our ills, quite conveniently forgot that Sri Lanka had been there on16 previous occasions and finally ended up bankrupt in 2022, Prof. Jayasumana said, pointing out that those who promised to restore public confidence in the economy were responsible for the bankruptcy. That is the ugly truth the people should know, Prof. Jayasumana said.