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Fuel tax hike won’t burden people, says Siddaramaiah
DHNS
Last Updated IST
Muslims make up almost 10 per cent of Sri Lanka’s 22 million -- predominantly Buddhist -- population.
Muslims make up almost 10 per cent of Sri Lanka’s 22 million -- predominantly Buddhist -- population.

Increase in sales tax on petrol and diesel will not burden the common man, former chief minister and Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah said on Thursday.

“For additional resource mobilisation, a small and marginal increase has been made in petrol and diesel prices. It’s not a big burden (on people),” he told reporters after Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy presented the budget.

Asked if he thought it was a good budget, Siddaramaiah said: “It’s a continuation of the budget already presented in February.” He was referring to the budget he presented as chief minister in the previous Congress government.

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The waiver of farmers’ loans worth Rs 34,000 crore was a programme of both parties, Siddaramaiah said. “It was agreed upon and included in the Common Minimum Programme,” he added.

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(Published 06 July 2018, 00:46 IST)