A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Are Ministers deities devoid of tax burden?
2017-06-28
At
a time when the country is facing a debt burden, Ministers should play a
key role in securing the people’s money. But they seem to care less.
While they get to enjoy most perks and benefits, many of them seem to be
surviving the tax game as well. The Daily Mirror learns that the
statutory allowance for any individual, whether a resident or not is Rs.
500,000. This is a tax-free allowance given to all citizens of Sri
Lanka. Therefore in order to charge income tax an individual should have
an income amounting more than Rs. 500,000. But when it comes to
Ministers this is not the case. While they are being blessed with many
perks and benefits, they are also not taxed in most instances.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror a few individuals expressed their
concerns regarding this matter.
Ministers don’t pay tax in a legitimate manner Lacille de Silva
“This
is one major problem that this country has,” says Lacille de Silva,
former Secretary to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Serious
Acts of Frauds and Corruption. “Tax officers chase after ordinary people
but if we look at these Ministers, they make huge profits. They sell
their permits and live lavishly. Some of these Ministers have even
failed to show their annual declaration of assets as well. If the tax
officers chase after these Ministers they don’t have to burden the
public. I think most of these tax officers have gathered money
illegally. They don’t seem to be executing the tax law as said. Most of
these Ministers don’t pay the tax in the legitimate manner.”
Tax officers chase after ordinary people but if we look at these Ministers, they make huge profits. They sell their permits and live lavishly
Not all Ministers have been taxed - Ivan Dissanayake
Inland Revenue Department Deputy Commissioner General, Ivan Dissanayake
said that not all Ministers have been taxed. “Their job is quite
different and if we take a Minister in Matara, they will have to go and
do most work on the field. Therefore they are not taxed from their
salary. Some time back there were discussions to get Ministers to pay
income tax according to the formula. In the case of an ordinary person,
they are given a limit of Rs. 500,000 and this is common to all. Those
who are paid more than Rs. 500,000 will be taxed. There are no separate
rates for Ministers and ordinary citizens but it applies to all.”
Those who are paid more than Rs. 500,000 will be taxed. There are no separate rates for Ministers and ordinary citizens but it applies to all
Vehicles and VIP Politicians
Recently, the government once again sought parliamentary approval for a
supplementary estimate to cover Rs. 330 million for the purchase of
vehicles for three cabinet ministers, three state ministers, a
Provincial Governor and a Secretary to the Prime Minister. Contrary to
what has been said or done, the present regime seems to be treating
themselves to luxuries.
During the recent floods, another supplementary estimate of Rs. 369
million was proposed to the Parliament, this time to allocate money for
vehicles to be given to lawmakers and to renovate their official
residences.
Therefore the total amount allocated to buy vehicles mainly for
ministers, deputy ministers and senior public officials summed up to Rs.
1,200 million. Yet, fortunately, although the aforementioned amount was
then suspended due to the disaster situation, it has already been
approved as in most instances.
During the recent floods, another supplementary estimate of Rs. 369 million was proposed to the Parliament for vehicles
The people in this country have been misled - Nagananda Kodituwakku
In
his comments, Attorney-at-law Nagananda Kodituwakku said that these
elected representatives have given a pledge to work in accordance with
the Constitution. “They have pledged to be faithful to the citizens who
came forward to elect them. Everybody from those in the Cabinet to
lawyers, judges and other government officials should work according to
the Constitution once elected to office. But from what I see, the people
in this country have been misled. Vehicles have been given to ministers
to perform their duties and work efficiently. But this doesn’t mean
that they should be buying and selling permits at their own will. From
what I found, although it was said that 45 vehicles were imported on
tax-free permits another 46 of them have arrived. So the count goes up
to 91. This shows that ministers are given tax-free permits to make
money.
45 vehicles were imported on tax-free permits another 46 of them have arrived. So the count goes up to 91. This shows that ministers are given tax-free permits to make money
Prices of essential goods are being increased and people are unable to
bear the high cost of living. If someone gets down an ordinary car from
India, the tax is Rs. 2 million. In Sri Lanka, the tax on a motor
vehicle is 300% more than that in Britain and this keeps increasing
every year. So where does the democracy in this country stand? Even
those MPs who say that they haven’t used their perks and benefits seem
to be doing the opposite. Therefore our officials lack honesty,
integrity and loyalty.”
Please refer to the 2015/16 breakdown of tax rates given in graphs:
President and PM don’t seem to be ashamed of misusing money - Wasantha Samarasinghe
Speaking
to the Daily Mirror, JVP politburo member Wasantha Samarasinghe said
that the President and the Prime Minister don’t seem to be ashamed of
misusing money in this way. “The people displaced and affected by the
Meethotamulla tragedy were given a small compensation and they spent
Rs.330 million to bring down vehicles. This is ridiculous. They are
misusing people’s money. Many luxury vehicles were brought down during
the CHOGM event and nobody knows what happened to those vehicles. It is
shameful to see such abuse of power and misuse of people’s money.”