News
SEC received over Rs 1 bn for unfinished Inland Revenue building project – COPA
…building rented at over 5 mn not used
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has questioned the failure on the part of the Inland Revenue Department to use a building at Colpetty rented at a cost of Rs.5.08 mn.
According to the first COPA report handed over to Parliament, on July 20, by the watchdog’s Chairman Prof. Tissa Vitarana, the Inland Revenue Department abandoned plans to set up ‘Tax Services Division’ due to strong objections by employees.
COPA comprises Prof. Vitarana, Udaya Gammanpila, Duminda Dissanayake, Dayasiri Jayasekera, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Dr. Mrs Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Shehan Semasinghe, Prasanna Ranaweera, Tissa Attanayake, Harin Fernando, Niroshan Perera, Faizal Cassim, Ashok Abeysinghe, Buddhika Pathirana, Kader Masthan, Mohammed Muzammil, Sivagnanam Shritharan, Dr. Upul Galappalaththi, B.Y.G. Ratnasekera, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Prof. Ranjith Bandara and Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.
In response to COPA inquiries, the Inland Revenue Department has claimed that the building rented to store documents as part of the expansion of the Tax Services Division couldn’t be utilized for want of employees’ cooperation.
Expressing serious concerns over the development, COPA termed the transaction misuse of public funds.
The report dealt with a spate of serious shortcomings, misappropriation of public funds and perhaps some sections of the Inland Revenue Department, Sri Lanka Customs and Excise Department colluding with interested parties.
The report also exposed the utterly irresponsible conduct of the State Engineering Corporation (SEC) as regards a finalized agreement to build a 9 storeyed vehicle park at a cost of Rs 1,430.5 mn for the Inland Revenue. Of that amount, Rs 1,399.7 mn had been paid to the SEC by Dec 31, 2018 without paying attention to progress. The report revealed that the SEC had awarded all work to private sub-contractors although the state enterprise accepted the contract.
The Inland Revenue has taken up the position that a state institution couldn’t initiate legal action for violating an agreement. However, the COPA hasn’t made remedial measures to address the issue at hand. Prof. Vitarana told The Island that the matter needs careful consideration particularly at a time the country was experiencing a severe financial crisis.
The senior LSSPer who received SLPP National List appointment said that since the last parliamentary election the COPA and two other parliamentary watchdogs- COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises) and COPF (Committee on Public Finance) had raised a number of pertinent questions. The Parliament should take tangible measures to rectify inadequacies in the revenue collection systems, curb waste, corruption and irregularities and also negligence, the veteran politician stressed.
The COPA report on the basis of submissions made those responsible for revenue collection acknowledge further complications caused by the raging Covid-19 epidemic. However, closer scrutiny of the report revealed that the entire tax collection system had been in turmoil even before the eruption of the epidemic here in early 2020.
COPA pointed out that in spite of the setting up of a special division in terms of the Default Taxes Payment (Special Provisions) Act No 16 of 2010, recovery of taxes had been unsatisfactory. The watchdog has observed by December 2018, eight years after the setting up of the special division arrears in taxes and fines amounting to Rs 32.5 bn were yet to be collected. Referring to Rs 32.5 bn, COPA largely faulted government institutions for the non –payment of taxes while quoting the relevant Inland Revenue official as having said that an Independent Advisory Committee established to deal with recovery of defaulted taxes directed that defaulters given an opportunity to pay arrears in installments.
Former COPA Chairman Lasantha Alagiyawanna admitted that in spite of disclosures made by not only COPA but other parliamentary watchdogs as well over a period of time corrective measures hadn’t been taken. According to the SLFPer, relevant ministers were answerable for whatever the shortcomings and discrepancies taking place under their watch.
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
