National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa said that he will take legal action against what he called the illegal increase of the VAT by the government.

Speaking in the Parliament recently on the VAT increase, Weerawansa said that taxes on certain sectors cannot be amended without amending the relevant Parliamentary Acts.

The government cannot increase the taxes by a Gazette notification or a circular. The changes have to be approved by Parliament, he said.

Therefore, he will take legal action against the increase of the VAT, Weerawansa said.

He also added that the government has increased the burden on the people by excessive borrowing and that government expenditure is also high. The rupee has been devalued drastically and the balance of payments has been reduced to a negative value from a positive value under the Rajapaksa government, he added.