Low Taxes, High Drama: Why Are Sri Lanka’s MPs Paying Less Than You?

While everyday citizens sweat over their tax bills, some lawmakers seem to be enjoying suspiciously light deductions. A public outcry is brewing—and the Inland Revenue Department may finally have to explain.

A Salary of Rs. 322,713. A Tax Deduction of Just Rs. 3,728.

That’s not a typing error—it’s the pay slip that has sparked a firestorm on social media. When Kalutara District MP Jagath Withana of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) posted his May salary breakdown, it didn’t take long for the public to do the math—and raise eyebrows.

While most Sri Lankans earning a similar amount are slapped with tax bills of over Rs. 24,000, this parliamentarian paid less than Rs. 4,000 in PAYE tax. Naturally, the internet had questions—and they weren’t polite.

“I Don’t Know About That” – Minister’s Shrug Sparks More Questions

At this week’s Cabinet media briefing, when asked directly about the eyebrow-raising deduction, Media Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa simply said, “I don’t know about that.”

He added that the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) would be “looking into it.” But critics aren’t buying the surprise. After all, MP pay packets are hardly state secrets—especially not now.

Tax Experts Call It What It Is: A Double Standard

According to senior tax professionals, the numbers don’t add up. Under current tax laws, anyone earning over Rs. 300,000 a month is firmly within a taxable bracket. So how are parliamentarians skimming by?

"An ordinary salaried worker earning Rs. 322,000 would owe over Rs. 24,000 in taxes," one tax consultant said bluntly. "This deduction is either based on a loophole or a privilege, and neither is fair."

Are MPs Living in a Parallel Tax Universe?

This isn’t the first time Sri Lanka's elected officials have been accused of living by a different rulebook. From tax-free luxury vehicles to untaxed allowances, MPs have long enjoyed perks far removed from those they govern.

Before the economic collapse, public servants enjoyed their own tax holiday. Today, with higher enforcement and soaring tax rates, the average citizen is painfully aware of what they owe. But as more details emerge, it seems MPs may still be living in a fiscal fantasy land.

Train Tickets Abroad, Tax-Free Cars at Home?

In some countries, parliamentarians get modest reimbursements—train tickets, small electoral office expenses. In Sri Lanka? Try fully untaxed vehicle permits and a slew of allowances wrapped in secrecy.

Now that pay slips are being posted online, the gap between perception and privilege is getting harder to ignore.

Public Scrutiny Rises as the Tax Burden Grows

With food costs, fuel, and electricity all rising, so too has tax enforcement—on everyone else. Salaried workers are being taxed on every allowance, while MPs appear to glide past the rules they helped write.

The outrage isn’t just about money—it’s about fairness. And with elections looming, the public is watching more closely than ever.

Will the IRD Step In—or Step Back?

Minister Jayatissa may have deflected, but the IRD is now under pressure to show transparency—or risk being seen as complicit. Will there be a proper investigation? Will MPs face back taxes? Or will this be another headline blown away by next week’s scandal?

One thing’s for sure: Sri Lankans are no longer asleep at the tax wheel. And this time, the ones who usually set the rules may find themselves finally being held to them.