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Harsha slams CCC for protest statement; Chamber chooses not to respond 

03 Nov 2022

   
  • MP says it is not Chamber’s ‘business’ to ‘pontificate’ to people on democratic rights
  • Netizens point at Chamber welcoming 2019 tax cuts, Chamber says it was to stimulate growth at the time
    By Imsha Iqbal  Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dr. Harsha de Silva expressed his dismay yesterday (2) over the joint statement recently issued by several business chambers that come under the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, which requested citizens to call off the mass protest staged yesterday.  Dr. de Silva, in a tweet said: “While I appreciate the good work of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), I do not agree it is their business to pontificate to the Sri Lankan people on their democratic rights. The protest is to stop using the PTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) on protestors while protecting the Parliament goons who attacked them on 9 May.” The Morning Business reached out to the CCC for a response to de Silva’s comment, but it refused to provide such.  Issuing a joint statement on Tuesday (1), the chambers said that while recognising Sri Lankans’ freedom of speech and right to express views, the mass protest would undermine the efforts being taken in overcoming the prevailing economic crisis.   Their statement further said: “In addition, any instability can affect the recovery process for exports and foreign investment too. We appeal to all parties to divert their energies and resources towards encouraging positive reforms and focus on how we recover as a nation, instead of engaging in acts that can further damage the economy and place more burdens on the people of this country.”  The statement was issued by the Chamber of Young Lanka Entrepreneurs (COYLE), Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICCSL), National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE), and Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC), along with the CCC. Dr. de Silva also criticised the aforementioned collective of chambers during a press briefing held yesterday, saying that it is giving advice “while in ivory towers” that instead needs to be presented to the relevant authorities. Further, several Twitter users had also pointed out the Ceylon Chamber’s statement supporting the tax cuts that were announced in late 2019, after the formation of a new government.  CCC Chief Economist Shiran Fernando told The Morning Business the following on the above concern: “At the time of tax cuts, it was with a view of stimulating growth. We emphasised then, as we do now, on the need for curbing expenditure and accelerating reforms such as those concerning SOEs. With the impact of the pandemic, we called on the reversal of such tax changes and the reintroduction of tried and tested methods of collection, such as PAYE (Pay As You Earn).” The CCC, in February, raised concerns following the gazetted provisions of the Surcharge Tax Bill. 


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