News
Head of Economic Oversight Committee to move CIABOC against revenue authorities
‘Parliament amended law to favour tax defaulters, with defaulter being able to drag appealing process for 15 years’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Chairman of Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Economic and Physical Plans Mahindananda Aluthgamage yesterday (05) said that he intended to utilise Anti-Corruption Act No 09 of 2023 against top government revenue officials who neglected their responsibilities.
The former minister said so when The Island asked him as to what specific measures were being contemplated in the New Year to compel Inland Revenue Department (IRD), Customs and Excise Department to meet the revenue targets.
Kandy District lawmaker Aluthgamage said that increased revenue last year, following repeated interventions made by Parliament, revealed that revenue collection systems/procedures had been corrupted to the core. Regardless of who wielded political power at any given time, the system favoured the tax defaulters and in turn also benefitted corrupt officials to look the other way, the SLPPer said.
The utterly flawed and corrupt system had been put in place by Parliament that, over the years, amended relevant laws at the behest of the Finance Ministry, the ex-Minister said. The bottom line is those responsible for revenue collection brazenly represented the interests of big business regardless of the consequences, MP Aluthgamage said.
The new Anti-Corruption Act came into operation on Sept 15, 2023. Lawmaker Aluthgamage said that there were specific provisions in it to deal with negligent and corrupt officials.
The enactment of the new law automatically repealed the Bribery Act (Chapter 26), the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) Act No 19 of 1994 and the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Law No 01 of 1975.
Responding to another query, MP Aluthgamage emphasized that in spite of improvement in revenue collection last year the need to establish a powerful revenue authority to monitor and regulate the three state income collecting bodies couldn’t be forgotten.
In addition, the Department of Motor Traffic, too, should be placed under close watch as it was riddled with corruption, the MP said.
The parliamentarian added that the failure on the part of successive governments to implement the Revenue Administration Management Information System (RAMIS), acquired from Singapore at a colossal cost, was yet to be fully functional. “The officialdom is bent on continuing with flawed systems for obvious reasons,” the ex-Minister said.
The vast majority of people, struggling to make ends meet, hated the new tax regime due to uncollected taxes, penalties and interests from those who could pay amounted to as much as Rs 1,000 bn by Dec 31, 2023.
MP Aluthgamage said that he strongly believed that corrupt officials should be dealt in terms of the new Anti-Corruption Act by the CIABOC.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Dec 21, 2023, appointed W. M. N. P. Iddawala, former Judge of the Court of Appeal and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament, as the new Chairman. Bernard Rajapakse, former Senior Deputy General Manager of the People’s Bank, and Chethiya Goonesekera, PC and Additional Solicitor General of the Attorney General’s Department, were the other members of the Commission.
The new team replaced Justice Eva Wanasundera (Chairperson), Justice Deepali Wijesundera and retired DIG Chandra Nimal Wakishta who once served as the head of State Intelligence Service (SIS). However, retired Justice W.K.D. Wijeratne remains the Director General, CIABOC.
MP Aluthgamage stressed that the recovery of unpaid taxes, penalties and fines was as important as expanding the tax base in line with the government overall strategy meant to strengthen the economy. That was one of the major IMF conditions the government had no option but to address, MP Aluthgamage said, urging political parties not to undermine government efforts.
Addressing the media at the Presidential Media Division (PMD) in late Sept 2023, MP Aluthgamage charged that incompetence and corruption at the three main revenue gathering bodies caused the government significant losses. He estimated the annual losses at approximately Rs 500 bn, with Customs being the main culprit responsible for failing to collect as much as Rs 360 bn.
The lawmaker said that those under a cloud over losses caused to the government could challenge him if they felt his assessments weren’t accurate. The one-time SLFPer said that though ill-fated political decisions caused the rapid deterioration of the economy during President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency, no one could deny the despicable role played by revenue collecting bodies.
The MP alleged that politicians and officials had colluded with the big business to amend the relevant laws to prolong the appeal process. That was the primary tool used by the interested parties, the former minister said, adding that the Parliament couldn’t absolve itself of the responsibility for this pathetic state of affairs.
Aluthgamage said that he told President Wickremesinghe that PAYE (Pay as You Earn) tax was not required at all if the government ensured proper collection of taxes.
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.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
