Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake today reiterated that the recent increase in certain taxes is only temporary and that even though the government is also averse to imposing them it is something that needs to be done at this juncture.

“We are also paying the same bills. There is nothing different,” he said responding to a question from journalists at a press briefing in Colombo regarding the VAT increase.

He stated that at this point the government needs to increase the income in order to pay back the mountain of dept burdening the country’s finances.

The Minister said that the government is only taking from those who can afford to pay and not from the underprivileged people of the country.

“I call upon all the people this country to assist us and be patient in the pursuit of trying to have a rapid development for the country.

“You will see tomorrow, day after new projects will keep starting.” He stated that the Rajagiriya elevated bridge, Moratuwa bridge and outstation roads such as the expressway in Kandy will be started in the next couple of weeks.

“You can see that the investment drive has started. And this would be seen and shown with benefit to the people,” Karunanayake said.

He stated that the most important thing is that the development aid which is coming in is there futuristically and “not to pay the past sins.”

The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) executive board has approved a three-year $1.5 billion loan to support Sri Lanka’s economic reform agenda.

“Unfortunately there have been tax increases that have taken place but that is momentary. Our intention is to reduce this as soon as possible but we need to have a firm economy in our hands,” the minister said.

“Everybody needs to be paying their due taxes that’ll only help to have a quick revival of our economy,” he said.