Former Deputy Leader of the United National Party and Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake said that the grace period granted to the public for tax payments in the wake of the current disaster is far from sufficient.
Speaking in Parliament, he noted that the Department of Inland Revenue has announced only a one-week grace period for taxpayers, as communicated on November 29.
The MP pointed out that more than 450,000 families have been severely affected by the disaster, with around 1.8 million people impacted overall. He added that some affected areas remain inaccessible, further complicating the situation for those required to meet tax obligations.
In light of these circumstances, Ravi Karunanayake urged the authorities to extend the grace period until the end of the year to accommodate those facing hardship. He emphasized that, at a time like this, political considerations should take a back seat to the needs of the people.
