Sri Lanka’s Economy is sustained by Sinhala Taxpayers: Without them, Sri Lanka stops – thank Sinhalese without demanding separatism

 

Sri Lanka survives today because ordinary, hardworking Sinhala taxpayers across the Western, Southern, Sabaragamuwa, North Western and North Central Provinces carry the economic weight of the entire nation. These provinces produce the largest share of national income and generate most tax revenue, which is then used to fund all nine provinces, including those that demand special political powers or separatism.

 

This is not emotion.
This is not racism.
This is economic fact.

 

 

What the numbers say:

According to Central Bank of Sri Lanka – Provincial GDP (PGDP) 2023:

 

• Total GDP:LKR 27.4 trillion
• Total Tax Revenue:LKR 3.05 trillion
• Sinhalese-majority provinces

(Western, Southern, North Western, Central, Sabaragamuwa, North Central):

GDP: LKR 21.92 trillion (≈80%)

Taxes: LKR 2.59 trillion (≈85%)

 

• Northern & Eastern provinces:

GDP: LKR 1.64–2.19 trillion (≈6–8%)

Taxes: < LKR 61 billion (<2%)

Budget Transfers Received: ≈LKR 610 billion (>20%)”

Provincial Numbers (2023)

• Western Province:7% of national GDP – (~LKR 12.0 trillion)
• North Western Province:9% – (~LKR 3.0 trillion)
• Southern Province:9%
• Sabaragamuwa Province:8%
• Central Province:3%
• North Central Province:8%
• Uva Province:7%
• Eastern Province:7%
• Northern Province:5%
• These four provinces, with over 90% Sinhala population, generate:
• Nearly 80% of Sri Lanka’s GDP – (~LKR 21.92 trillion),
• Over 85% of total tax revenue – (~LKR 2.59 trillion)
• North Western, Central, and Southern provinces contribute most of the remaining GDP.
• Northern & Eastern provinces:
  • contribute only6–8% of GDP – (~LKR 1.64–2.19 trillion),
  • collect less than 2% taxes – (<LKR 61 billion),
  • but receive over20% of national budget transfers (~LKR 610 billion)

 

What this means

• Over 80% of GDP and 85% of tax revenue comes from Sinhala-majority provinces
• Northern and Eastern Provinces contribute only 6–8%of the economy

BUT they absorb over 20% of national budget transfers, subsidies and aid

• Taxes paid by people in Colombo, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Kandy, Galle, Matara, and Ratnapuraare used to finance schools, roads, hospitals, government salaries, fertilizer, Samurdhi, pensions, provincial councils, and welfare in the North and East.
• Yet, tax revenue collected from the North and East is less than 2% of the total economy
• Even during the war, funds to maintain schools, hospitals, salaries, pensions and welfare in LTTE-controlled areas STILL came from the Sri Lankan Government — paid by Sinhala taxpayers. Even the LTTE ate & survived on state funds.
  Even today, soldiers from Sinhala villages shed their blood in border hospitalsthat also supply blood to Jaffna, Batticaloa and Trincomalee hospitals.

Sri Lanka 2023 Economic Summary

Total GDP: LKR 27 trillion

• Sinhalese-majority provinces:LKR 21 trillion (~78%)
• Northern & Eastern provinces:LKR 2.1 trillion (~8%)

Total Tax Revenue: LKR 3.05 trillion

• Sinhalese-majority provinces:LKR 2.59 trillion (~85%)
• Northern & Eastern provinces:< LKR 61 billion (<2%)

National Budget Transfers & Subsidies:

• Northern & Eastern provinces:~LKR 610 billion (>20% of national funds)
• Remaining provinces:funded by Sinhalese-majority tax revenue

 

So, let us be very clear:

• Sinhala taxpayerscontribute the largest share to government revenue. This is the fact.
• Sinhala-majority provincessubsidize the rest of the country
• TheNorthern and Eastern provinces survive on national funding, not separatist slogans
• Those shouting“self-determination”, “federalism”, and “separatism” do so while living on Sinhala taxpayers’ money

This is not racism.
This is economic justice.
Facts have no ethnicity.

 

Budget Reality – Who Pays the Bills?

Every year, billions of rupees are allocated to Provincial Councils.

Provinces like the North and East collect less than 2% of tax revenue but consume over 20% of national budget transfers, subsidies, and aid

This means Sinhala taxpayers are funding those demanding division of the country. Do those demanding or even supporting separatism realize this truth?

 

Questions the Nation Must Ask Before Discussing Federalism or Devolution:

Why are the people who carry the economy – the Sinhala taxpayers – constantly accused, insulted, and demonized, while the regions funded by their labor demand separation and federalism?

Before anyone talks about federalism, devolution, police powers, or land powers, let them answer:

1. Who pays for your province?
2. Who built your roads?
3. Who funds your hospitals?
4. Who pays your teachers and public servants?
5. Who provided welfare, pensions and subsidies all these years?

 

No one has the right to divide what they don’t pay for.

 

Sri Lanka survives because of Sinhala workers, farmers, entrepreneurs and taxpayers.

The Sinhala majority is the economic spine of this nation. No one can contest this fact.

It is time to acknowledge their contribution – without apology.

 

Salute the Silent Sinhala Working Majority

Sri Lanka survives because of Sinhala workers, farmers, entrepreneurs, and taxpayers.
They are the economic spine of the nation.
They carry the nation.
They feed the nation.
They fund the nation.
Without them, Sri Lanka stops.

 

 

 

Shenali D Waduge