NewsCurry Breaking news and serving it up in pieces
Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure Minister Harin Fernando, who receives a phone allowance as part of his ministerial package, today said that the increase in telecom charges will not affect the public as people like him who are also part of the public already have a phone allowance.
Speaking to the BBC, Minister Fernando said, “People in Sri Lanka talk too much anyway. I mean just look at these politicians – all the time they have something to say but little action. So as means of cutting down the need to chat, we have decided to extend VAT to the telecom sector. Of course, I’m not one of those types of politicians, but if you’ll excuse me I have to take this call.”
“Sorry, it was a doctor from Africa who wanted who said if he can give him one million dollars to help win his rightful claim to 50 million dollars that he would deposit it in Sri Lanka. I have asked him to call Ravi. Anyway, yes, as a result of these changes we as ministers are actually going to suffer as we will have less talk time through our monthly allowance. So we have decided to request a 15% increase in the allowance from the Government which in no way will increase the debt burden.”
“My advice to anyone who feels they will suffers as a result of this increase is to find a job that has an index linked phone allowance as part of the package. You can even try becoming a politician,” he added.
