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Ranil justifies tax hikes amidst criticism_我的网站

一 |     　　济南8月24日电 (国璇 李明芮)“活力中国调研行”主题采访活动山东站24日在济南正式启动。在当天举行的情况介绍会上，山东省发展和改革委员会党组成员、副主任朱红表示，山东持续优化区域发展格局，以强县产业帮扶弱县，促进县域经济协调均衡发展，上半年10个弱县固定资产投资、财政收入增速分别高于全省平均14.9个和1.5个百分点左右。    Colombo, Oct 20 (UNI) Amid growing criticism, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has justified a hike in income tax for both corporates and individuals, saying it was for the greater good of the country and critical to garner much needed financial support from the international community.
In an address to the nation, the President said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with which the government has signed a Staff Level Agreement for a $2.9 billion four-year financial support, advised the need for a surplus in Sri Lanka’s primary budget, the Daily FT reported on Thursday.
“It was agreed to since the country needs the support of the IMF,” he was quoted him as saying.
“It was also decided to increase the country’s income from 8.5 per cent to 14.5 per cent of the GDP. However, it is a difficult task to accomplish immediately, it is envisaged to achieve this by 2026.
"Initially, a decision had to be taken on the manner in which the income is to be increased. Money was printed due to the decrease in income. During the past two years, Rs. 2,300 billion has been printed, resulting in inflation rising to 70-75 per cent and even more in respect of food inflation," he said.
Wickremesinghe said these increases need to be controlled, while securing income. Therefore, during the discussions with the IMF a new tax system was proposed. The IMF informed that even the export industries would be required to pay taxes.
The IMF pointed out that in countries with an export economy, the related industries were liable for tax. The IMF also upheld that Sri Lanka’s primary export economy is based on the plantation industry.
During British rule, taxes were charged from every plantation sector, including tea, coconut and rubber. Therefore, if the country has to move towards that goal, taxes will have to be paid. The export sector has now questioned this aspect and the related concerns are to be submitted to the IMF.
Referring to the issue of higher personal income taxation, the President said the majority of tax revenue was through indirect taxation. The majority of the country’s citizens, even those below the poverty line, had no choice but to pay indirect taxes, the President said.
The direct tax revenue was 20 per cent and 80 per cent has been derived from indirect taxes.
The IMF had reservations in this regard and said the amount of tax obtained through direct taxes should exceed 20 per cent. The IMF noted that otherwise this would not be successful and ordinary citizens would need to pay taxes, the President said.
Therefore, the Treasury and the IMF discussed the possibility of limiting the taxation from those who have an income of Rs. 200,000, which did not materialise. Eventually, this resulted in the decision to levy income tax on people earning over 100,000. This has become a vital concern amongst citizens.
But without this tax system, the desired goal will not be achieved. The agreed goal is to achieve 14.5-15 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) revenue by 2026, Wickremesinghe said.
If Sri Lanka withdraws from this programme, IMF assistance will not be received. Without IMF certification, the support of institutions such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and the countries that have supported financially will not be forthcoming. Then, Sri Lanka will be back to the era of queues, he warned.
In his address, Wickremesinghe also said the Government was ready to implement prudent economic management after successful debt restructuring.
He noted that it was not possible to strengthen the economy without increasing the revenue of the country, which will compel him to reluctantly make tough decisions in order to rebuild the nation.
The President pointed out how in November 2019, the country’s taxes were drastically reduced, reducing the government revenue to 8.5 per cent. This was when the IMF set aside the agreements with Colombo and declared that it was unable to provide the agreed assistance.
"That year the government lost approximately Rs. 600-700 billion as revenue. Simultaneously, the country had to face the Covid-19 pandemic. These issues are the main factors that led to the collapse of Sri Lanka’s economy.
"The country at this juncture is facing a difficult period. Expectedly tough decisions have to be taken during these difficult times. I undertook this challenge when no one else was willing to come forward."
UNI MR。　　山东户籍、常住人口“双过亿”，拥有136个县级行政单位，县域经济底盘深厚、消费市场广阔。

二 | 朱红介绍，山东梯次建设2000多个乡村振兴片区、覆盖1.8万余个行政村，让城市更加宜居、乡村更加和美，促进城乡融合发展。从单点突破到区域联动，县域消费的“毛细血管”正在被系统性打通。

三 | 　　商务部国际贸易经济合作研究院研究员崔艳新在会上透露，今年上半年，县乡消费占社会消费品零售总额的比重提高到39.2%。随着县域商业体系不断完善、物流配送体系不断健全以及城乡居民消费升级，县域市场正由过去以满足基本生活需求为主，逐步向品质化、品牌化、服务化消费拓展，成为扩大消费的重要增长空间。

四 | 7月25日，烟台蓬莱阁景区迎来游客登阁观海，打卡“仙境”风光。

五 | 在暑期档动画电影《八仙！》热映的带动下，“八仙过海”传说故事发生地——山东蓬莱成为暑期游客出游的热门目的地。刘昊 摄　　山东从渠道升级、业态创新、供给优化和流通提效等多方面激活县域消费。山东省商务厅总经济师朱希昕说，2026年，山东率先落实国家消费品以旧换新补贴政策，组织举办消费品以旧换新、新能源汽车下乡等主题促消费活动超2800场，实现销售额超620亿元人民币，有力带动绿色、智能消费快速增长。1月至7月，全省限上新能源汽车零售额同比增长6.7%，可穿戴智能设备、节能家电、智能手机限上零售额分别同比增长227.4%、16.3%、31.7%。

六 | 　　朱希昕称，山东积极探索“平台+达人+产地”电商助农新模式，联合平台开展滨州盐田虾产地溯源专场推广，邀请头部达人推介产品并组织专场带货，活动全网传播量达1.9亿次，以数字流量赋能特色农产品上行。　　“小而美”的乡村旅游正在成为山东县域消费的新增量。文化和旅游部产业发展司产业融合处副处长蒋珂菲在会上表示，文旅部正指导113个县开展文化产业赋能乡村振兴试点，实施乡村旅游提质增效行动，引导各地丰富农耕研学、自驾露营、民俗体验等“小而美”乡村文旅业态。　　山东省文化和旅游厅党组副书记、副厅长刘少华称，当前正值暑期旅游旺季，山东推出3700余项暑期特色主题产品，涵盖滨海休闲、乡村避暑、亲子研学等多元业态。此外，作为中华文明重要发祥地，山东拥有得天独厚的研学资源和广阔的研学市场，正系统、规范、全力深耕研学旅游赛道，出台全链条研学服务规范，做强省级IP矩阵，构建“好客山东·见识齐鲁”品牌体系，分层培育海洋、儒家、红色等细分研学子品牌。　　作为人口大省，山东正立足本地资源禀赋和民众真实需求，从政策驱动、业态创新、场景培育和品牌推广等多方面协同发力，激活县域经济发展“一池春水”。

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Published on:07:07:53