Mobile phone users cannot say that they are unable to bear the cost of living, State Finance Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said.

He made this observation at a meeting in Matara yesterday, in an attempt to justify the imposition of VAT on telecommunications services.

"A mobile phone is not a commodity. If someone can buy a mobile phone he cannot say that the cost of living is high" he claimed.

Co-Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne also justified the imposition of VAT last week.

"Sri Lanka has a population of 20 million and 21 million mobile phones. So, the tax is not unjust" he said.

A journalist pointed out that if there were 21 million mobile phones in the country, it could be considered a commodity, and therefore the tax on mobile services is unjust. Senaratne chose to avoid the number games, saying that "no tax is fair."