Former Deputy Leader of the United National Party (UNP), MP Ravi Karunanayake, has pointed out that while many now speak positively about the Value Added Tax (VAT), few remember that it was the UNP that originally introduced the tax.
Speaking in Parliament, Karunanayake recalled that former UNP MP Choksy first introduced VAT in 2002. He emphasized that during his tenure as Finance Minister in the UNP-led government of 2015, he engaged in constructive dialogue with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and implemented significant reforms to VAT, rather than blindly accepting IMF recommendations.
Karunanayake added that the changes made under his leadership have led even the current government to view VAT more favorably and acknowledge its importance.
