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Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Nalin Bandara yesterday called on the Government to reduce electricity bills to provide relief to consumers and expressed his opposition to increasing the withholding tax (WHT) to 10 percent.
Attending a media briefing at the SJB office yesterday (23), Nalin Bandara further said, “The current Government had promised to reduce electricity bills by one-third before coming to power.
According to the Electricity Act, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) should have reduced the electricity bills. However, the Government has informed the CEB not to reduce the bills. When the Public Utilities Commission intervenes regarding electricity bills, both the CEB and the Government have jointly prevented the opportunity to provide relief to the public.
“Now, the Government says it will take about three years to reduce the electricity bills. However, electricity bills should be adjusted quarterly, either increased or decreased as necessary. According to the current calculations, electricity bills should be reduced.
Despite the need to reduce the bills, the Government has forcibly stopped the revision of electricity bills, providing no relief to consumers or industrialists. The Opposition expresses its protest against this and calls on the Government to immediately reduce the electricity bills.
“Additionally, the National People’s Power (NPP) had promised to provide higher interest rates on deposits for senior citizens. However, it is now reported that the interest rates for senior citizens have also decreased, and the withholding tax has been increased from 5 percent to 10 percent. This is an unfair action, as many people receive a monthly interest of around Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 30,000. Deducting 10 percent as withholding tax from this amount is an unjust act. Going to the Inland Revenue Department to reclaim this tax results in additional expenses for senior citizens. The withholding tax is not a tax that can be easily reclaimed. Only about 1 percent or 2 percent of the tax can be reclaimed. Increasing the withholding tax to 10 percent has significantly impacted senior citizens who voted for the NPP.”
Deneth Sankalana
