The main opposition SJB in Parliament on Friday said that Gotabaya Rajapaksa granting tax concessions to big companies that funded his election campaign was the first step that led the country towards bankruptcy.

Participating in the second reading stage debate on Budget 2023, Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella said that tax concession to please the mega companies resulted in a loss of Rs 681 billion to the national economy.

“The road to ruining of the national economy commenced with the very first budget of Gotabaya Rajapaksa government. These company owners had met with Gotabaya Rajapaksa prior to his election at the Shangri La in Colombo, where they promised to provide money for his campaign. In return, Gotabaya pledged that tax concessions would be given once he becomes the President. Gotabaya gave the tax concession to please those who had helped him. One such company had given one billion rupees to his campaign kitty. Those who came up with the so-called Viyath Maga was behind this,” Kiriella said.