While claiming that there has been no fraud in the sugar import as alleged by the opposition, State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal today accepted that the state income had reduced by Rs. 15.9 billion due to the reduction of tax on sugar imports.
He told Parliament that the government reduced the tax on sugar to benefit the people and said the benefit of the tax reduction on sugar had passed down to the people by now.
“When you reduce prices, the benefit is not transmitted to the people immediately. It takes time to pass down the benefit to the people. When prices are increased, it happens immediately,” he said.
He said opposition is claiming that there has been a fraud in sugar import just like in the Central Bank Bond scam and added that there has not been any irregularity in sugar import as everything has happened properly.
(Daily Mirror)