News

Officials in trouble due to Inland Revenue Dept. Chief’s naivety

Published

1 year ago

March 30, 2023

editor

The number of active large taxpayers’ files registered with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) is less than 800 while the total number of taxpayers’ files is less than 350,000, Sri Lanka Mirror learns.

Accordingly, out of nearly 23 million people in the country, an income taxpayer has to support about 60 people who do not pay income tax.

Meanwhile, it was reported that the trade unions of the IRD are preparing to request the government to increase the number of taxpayers in order to bring down the current high income tax rate.

Their opinion is that the tax burden imposed on the people can be reduced when the number of taxpayers increases.

It is also said that the target of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is to collect taxes correctly from large taxpayers, and to bring medium-sized taxpayers on the right path and turn them into large taxpayers.

According to the financial policy arrangements of the Finance Ministry, it has been proposed to register taxpayers without further delay and increase the number of taxpayers. However, it was reported that the current IRD Commissioner General has no proper understanding of the situation and therefore, the programme has been abandoned.

The trade unions accused the commissioner general of neglecting these matters and focusing on his retirement in August instead.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Mirror learnt that a group of accomplices of the Commissioner are attempting to open up about a million tax files.

It was also reported that the recruitments made to the newly established Revenue Management Department have also been made without any transparency.

Four people from the Inland Revenue Department have been appointed to this new division and six more are to be recruited.

However, these recruitments have been made at the discretion of the Finance Ministry without any interview or evaluation.

Meanwhile, it was also reported that many people in the field have criticized these appointments questioning the credibility of the appointees.

Sri Lanka Mirror learnt from a very reliable source that there are large taxpayers and retired people hiding behind these appointees.

News

“230 rehab centers island-wide tackle drug addiction”

Published

3 hours ago

April 28, 2024

editor

The National Dangerous Drugs Control Board says that 230 rehabilitation centers have been established to treat drug addicts in the country.

Its Chairman Attorney Shakya Nanayakkara says that the services of these rehabilitation centers will commence from the 7th of May.

The centers can accomodate up to 20,000 patients.

(newsfirst.lk)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by newsfirst.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Basil meets Indian High Commissioner

Published

24 hours ago

April 27, 2024

editor

Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa met Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha yesterday (27) and discussed.

The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka conveyed a X message regarding the meeting, highlighting discussions on matters of mutual interest, including the political situation.

This meeting between Basil and the Indian High Commissioner occurred after his departure from the position of National Organizer of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, adding a significant dimension to the encounter.

Before Basil met the Indian High Commissioner, President Ranil Wickremesinghe had also met earlier this week.

In a separate development, the Indian High Commissioner also held a meeting with Minister of Power and Energy, Mr. Kanchana Wijesekera.

The Indian High Commission issued a statement regarding this meeting as well, although specific details were not provided.

News

Sri Lanka allows German research vessel’s port call amidst diplomatic clarification

Published

24 hours ago

April 27, 2024

editor

Sri Lanka has allowed a German research vessel for replenishment in Colombo port for the second time following the clarification from the island nation’s Foreign Ministry after Chinese protest.

“It’s the same German research vessel came last month. It came around New Year time when it was returning and the ship was allowed,” a top Foreign Ministry official told Economy Next referring to Sri Lanka’s traditional New Year celebrated on April 14.

Another Foreign Ministry official confirmed the German research vessel’s Colombo port call.

The Foreign Ministry last month clarified a confusion related to ban on foreign research vessels.

It said Sri Lanka will allow offshore research ships for replenishment at the island nation ports despite the one-year ban on such vessels.

The clarification came after strong protest by China over Sri Lanka allowing the same German research vessel last month.

Chinese Embassy in Colombo raised strong protest against the move to allow a German research vessel early in March following the island nation’s authorities turned down a Beijing request for a research vessel in February.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government has temporarily halted foreign research ships after strong security concerns raised by neighbour India and the United States following the visit of two Chinese research vessels in 14 months.

When the ban was announced, the government failed to specifically reveal its stance on requests for replenishment or crew change for foreign research vessels.

Sri Lanka is in the process of introducing a SOP (Standard Operation Procedure) for handling foreign research vessels and to improve the capacity of relevant officials in handling foreign research ships.

Two Chinese research ships were allowed to dock in Sri Lanka ports within 14 months through November 2023 with one called for replenishment and the other for research.

Chinese research ship Shi Yan 6 arrived in Sri Lanka in October 2023 and docked in Colombo port, for what Beijing citing was for “geophysical scientific research” in collaboration with the island nation’s National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA).

In August 2022, Chinese navy vessel Yuan Wang 5 docked at Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka for replenishment.

Both drew strong Indian protests citing security concerns in the Indian Ocean.

India uses the Colombo port as its main transshipment hub and accounts for around 70 percent of the total transshipment volume of the port.

(economynext.com)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by economynext.com has not been edited by SLM staff)