Increase cigarette prices & use revenue to solve teachers salary issue - Buddhika

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Opposition has requested the Government to increase the price of a cigarette stick by Rs. 20 and allocate the revenue to resolve the salary anomalies of teachers and principals. SJB MP Buddhika Pathirana pointed out that the prices of cigarettes have not been increased since 2019 and if the prices of cigarettes were increased by Rs. 20, the Treasury will be able to collect an extra Rs. 50 billion annually. If the relevant measure was established, a total of Rs. 100 billion can be collected between 2021 and 2022. He further stated that it only takes Rs. 55  billion to solve the teacher's salary anomaly. Moreover, MP Pathirana said that over 50 people die daily due to tobacco while 22,000 people die annually. Meanwhile, State Minister Susil Premjayantha said that the issue cannot be solved as quickly due to the need to ensure that other sectors are not harmed in making this decision. He added that the Ministry has informed the teacher's unions that this matter will be addressed in the upcoming budget and commended the suggestion to increase the price of cigarettes.