We paid USD 4200mn as debts in 2019-Mangala Samaraweera

COLOMBO (News 1st) -  In response to the recent statement made by opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa regarding the country's economy, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera convened a media briefing at the finance ministry today (October 03). Mangala Samaraweera was critical of former president and former finance minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's statement on economy claiming that they were misleading and false. Minister added that it was disappointing to see that the former president's statements were influenced by ministers who had said that a family of three could live with a mere sum of Rs 2500. He stated that Sri Lanka is obliged to pay US$ 4200mn for the year 2019, which is the largest debt repayment in the history of Sri Lanka. He further added that they have another US$ 3463mn to be paid in the next year. Daniel Alphonsus, Advisor to the Finance Minister noted that in 2014 the number of tax files was 625, 376 and in 2018 it had doubled to 1,162,264.