The Lankan expatriate community living in the Gulf countries has welcomed the new interim budget presented in the Sri Lankan Parliament. The budget envisages relief to the middle and lower-middle class of the country by slashing duties on large number of consumer goods. However, Sri Lankan nationals having dual citizenship expressed their dissatisfaction over the government’s decision to levy huge amount to avail themselves of this facility. This is unbearably high. The other proposal, which did not receive popular approval, is the levy of Rs1 million on houses with a floor layout of 5,000 square feet. In the meantime, we have learned that the government is reconsidering these two new proposals due to resentments. We urge that these two unpopular levies should be either taken off or should be made affordable and realistic.

S.H. Moulana

Riyadh