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In the run-up to the presidential election in Sri Lanka, a barrage of disinformation campaigns is targeting Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of the National People’s Power (NPP), an emerging political force. The aim of these campaigns is to undermine his credibility and the NPP’s growing influence by spreading false or misleading information about his policies, statements and personal actions.

Social media posts

Social media posts say National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) has promised to abolish VAT on all items if he becomes president.

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Some compare this to the tax relief during the Gothabaya Rajapaksha era.

Facebook | Archived link

We decided to do a fact check.

Fact check:

This statement does not accurately reflect what Dissanayake stated in one of his recent speeches.

During a political rally in Tangalle, Anura Kumara Dissanayake spoke about VAT but did not state that he would abolish VAT on all items.

In his speech, Dissanayake addressed VAT, but did not indicate that he would completely abolish it from all goods and services.

He particularly mentioned the abolition of VAT on items related to health, education and food.

You can listen to the speech below.

Dissanayake’s promise focused on VAT exemption on essential goods such as health, education and food, rather than on all goods.

Many items in the health, education and food sectors are already exempt from VAT under current Sri Lankan regulations. You can read more details here.

Importantly, many products in these sectors are already exempt from VAT and his proposal would likely maintain or slightly extend these exemptions.

The misunderstanding may be due to previous tax cuts by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, which included a comprehensive VAT cut and posed economic challenges for Sri Lanka.

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Diploma:

The claim that Dissanayake promised to abolish VAT on all items is false. He only committed to abolishing VAT on certain sectors such as health, education and food.