News
Harsha finds many drawbacks in VAT system, ‘including lot of confusion even at highest echelons’
By Rathindra Kuruwita
There is a lot of confusion over the amendments to the Value Added Tax (VAT), and it will take a long time for the authorities to address the teething problems in the relevant software systems, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP, Harsha de Silva says.
Dr. de Silva pointed out that there was still a lot of confusion even at the highest echelons about the amendments to VAT. “Even the Colombo Tea Auction was suspended because they have no idea as to how VAT would affect their operations. We also need to ensure that the software at the IRD is ready. I think we will take some time to address technical issues that will arise,” Dr. De Silva said, noting that the amendment to the VAT regime was not that complicated. Goods and services that were taxed at 15 percent have been increased to 18 percent. Moreover, 97 items that were exempt from VAT previously were now subjected to VAT, he said.
“But people need to be better educated on how they should pay VAT. A company that has a turnover of over Rs 60 million a year must be registered for VAT. So, people might wonder if they have to pay VAT, if they buy a milk packet or an exercise book from a supermarket and whether they do not need to do so when they buy one from a roadside shop,” Dr. de Silva said.
“It is obvious that traders are taking advantage of this confusion,” he said, adding that traders were only acting as an agent for the government when they collected tax from the consumer.
“They can’t pocket the money so collected. They have to hand over that money to the state. There are also many issues in the efficiency in collecting taxes by government agencies. These loopholes will allow corrupt businesspeople to manipulate the VAT system,” he said.
The SJB MP added that Sri Lanka had a history of VAT frauds. Those between 2002 and 2004 had cost the Inland Revenue Department dear, he said.
“The government said that from 01 January 2024, everyone over 18 had to obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN), which had to be produced when opening a bank current account, securing approval for a building plan, registering a motor vehicle or renewing a revenue licence, and registering land or a title to land by the buyer. The government informed us so in November. But this week the government has given a one-month grace period. So it’s obvious that the government has not done enough to ensure compliance,” Dr. de Silva said.
The coming year would be extremely difficult for the average Sri Lankan given the government’s target to double the revenue from VAT compared to the previous year, he said.
The government was planning to collect about Rs 1,400 billion from taxes in 2024, he said.In 2023, the government had sought to rake in about Rs 700 billion from VAT, Silva said.
“So, the government is planning to collect double that amount in the current year. It is obvious that the average Sri Lankan family would be severely affected by the enhanced VAT,” he said.
“Before 01 January 2024, the VAT was not imposed on diesel and petrol. The government has imposed an 18 percent VAT on them. These products were subjected to the Ports and Airports Development Levy (PAL) of 7.5 percent before, and this levy has been repealed. So, the actual increase in taxes due to the application of VAT to diesel and petrol is 10.5 percent.”
The SJB MPs said that there were Sri Lankan companies that produced software for Sri Lankan companies. Their products were now subjected to VAT. But if the software came from overseas it was not subjected to VAT, he said.
“This is a big problem. We must help the local companies. We, members of the Committee on Public Finance, tried our best to resolve this issue. Our proposal was that the government must not consider where the software originated from. We asked it to consider where the software was used. If the service is used in Sri Lanka, it should be subjected to VAT. The President then asked the Treasury Secretary to implement our proposal,” he said.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
