Did the NPP draft an economic policy?
A document claiming to be the draft economic policy of the National Peoples Power (NPP) is circulating on social media these days.
by Anonymous |
July 9, 2024
The cover of the alleged draft read; the Economic Committee of the National People’s Power, NIO Economic Executive Council, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna’s (JVP) Economic Research Unit together with the final agreements of the discussions for 06 months / Draft 3/ 2024/ May / 0034 P EC.
Furthermore, the document read that it was only for the “internal use” of the party.
The alleged graft policy, under subsection personal reserve value calculation stated that it is mandatory to inform the Inland Revenue Department on all the gold, diamond and gem ornaments owned before March 31 every year. It states that the purpose of this is to calculate the value of private reserves in addition to the national reserves.
The alleged draft policy further states that a special license has to be obtained for weddings, birthday parties and gatherings spending more than 10 lakhs, proposing a 30 percent entertainment tax. It also states that it will be credited to the National Cultural Joint Fund.
Additionally, the policy states that the maximum limit for an individual to obtain services from supermarkets and restaurants is twenty thousand rupees.
Furthermore, a 12.5 kg gas cylinder for a family of five is issued once in two months and in all other provinces except the urban limits, domestic gas sales are done only through cooperatives, according to the said draft.
As the NPP repeatedly stated that their draft economic policy had not been finalized, FactSeeker stepped in to investigate the authenticity of the document.
In response to an inquiry made, the NPP’s media unit told FactSeeker that the party had not released a draft economic policy, highlighting that the document circulating is fake.
Sunil Hadunnetti, the executive member of the NPP stated that only documents related to surveyors, engineers, development and research programs have been issued so far.
Further commenting, he stated that the document was made with intentions of inducing fear of taxes.
Accordingly, FactSeeker verifies that the alleged draft economic policy of the NPP is fake.