News
Revenue collection remains indomitable challenge – President’s trade union chief
By Shamindra Ferdinando
President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Director General of Trade Unions Saman Ratnapriya said that the failure on the part of successive governments to efficiently collect due tax revenue had undermined the national economy.
The former UNP National List MP said that uncollected tax revenue, according to parliamentary records, remained over Rs 900 bn. Therefore, uncollected colossal sums left in abeyance remained a problem, Ratnapriya told a regular media briefing at his office on the third floor of the Lake House building on Tuesday (14).
Ratnapriya said that a special unit had been established at the Presidential Secretariat in line with the overall measures to address the issue at hand.
The civil society activist said so when The Island asked him to explain how the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government intended to pay the Rs. 10,000 cost-of-living allowance to 1.3 mn workers, beginning April 2024, and pay the arrears (January to March) in Oct., in stages, unless tangible measures were taken to streamline revenue collection.
At the onset of the briefing Ratnapriya explained the slow turn-around of the economy since the declaration of bankruptcy in April 2022. Ratnapriya recalled at the time UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe accepted the Finance portfolio, the Treasury was in two minds about paying the July 2022 public servants’ salary. Some believed the July salary should be paid in two parts, but Wickremesinghe ruled that out. “Today, the government is in a position to increase the public sector monthly cost of living allowance from Rs, 7,800 to Rs. 17,800 and pensioners’ allowance from Rs. 3,525 to Rs. 6025, an increase of Rs 2,500.
Ratnapriya emphasized that the government wouldn’t obtain loans nor print money to pay for the allowances. Instead, taxes would be collected to pay these allowances in line with overall strategy discussed and adopted to address issues at hand in consultation with international lending bodies, including the IMF and the World Bank.
Pointing out that neither President Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Finance Minister, nor previous administrations, had taken tangible action to collect unpaid taxes, The Island asked whether trade unions would make representations in this regard. Ratnapriya acknowledged that a country couldn’t move forward unless taxes were collected. According to him, the unit established at the Presidential Secretariat now worked with the Inland Revenue Department to enhance revenue collection efforts.
Ratnapriya alleged that those responsible for the tax collection apparatus resisted attempts to streamline the process. The trade union activist pointed out how tax authorities conveniently failed to tax casinos regardless of Treasury directive.
Ratnapriya said that implementation of digitized tax structure over the next few years would streamline the process and effectively collar those who had been dodging paying their taxes.
The Island also raised the contentious issue of successive governments allowing certain institutions, including the Central Bank and CEB, to pay the PAYE (Pay As You Earn) tax of their employees. Ratnapriya acknowledged that some institutions had done so but President Wickremesinghe stopped that practice. “As of today, institutions do not pay PAYE tax on behalf of their workers. The President’s directive is in operation. This should continue.”
Commenting on political developments, Ratnapriya said that President Wickremesinghe had already declared that presidential and parliamentary polls would be held in 2024 and 2025, respectively. The President also indicated his readiness to conduct Provincial Council polls if the country so desired, Ratnapriya said, claiming that Local Government polls would be a waste of time. Ratnapriya added that the public would have to pay the salaries of 8,700 councillors if Local Government polls were held, but now even without them those councils are functioning smoothly.
Ratnapriya insisted that the latest budget was not meant to promote the government ahead of impending national elections.
Responding to another query, Ratnapriya said that some of those who launched protest campaigns demanding Rs 20,000 actually hoped for Rs 5,000. A smiling Ratnapriya said that he knew what was going on as those trade union leaders happened to be his friends and associates. Ratnapriya insisted that the vast majority of public sector workers were happy with Rs 10,000 cost-of-living allowance. Therefore, those who intended to pursue protest campaigns demanding their original demand for Rs 20,000 wouldn’t receive any public support they required because of the dire circumstances facing the country.
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
