COLOMBO (News 1st) - President Anura Kumara Dissanayake reaffirmed that the government has not introduced any new taxes since coming into power and pledged further tax reductions in the upcoming Budget.Addressing the National Convention of the National Intellectuals Organization in Colombo, the President criticized past practices, stating that budget proposals had historically devolved into mere procedural documents presented to fulfill administrative requirements, with targets rarely being met. Highlighting past fiscal achievements, he noted that state revenue reached 110% of its target back in 2010.Responding to critics who question whether state revenue can be generated without raising taxes, the President clarified that the current administration has refrained from imposing a single new tax. Instead, several existing taxes have already been significantly reduced, and the government intends to offer additional tax relief to the public in the upcoming Budget.
