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| Wednesday, 18 August 2004 |
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| Tax schemes to net in big time bookies - Amunugama by Chamikara Weerasinghe Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama yesterday said he planned to introduce tax schemes to net in big time bookies. The Minister also said that steps would be taken without delay to prepare dynamic revenue methods to be imposed on bookies in keeping with his Ministry's plans to increase state earnings. Minister Amunugama declared this at a meeting held at the Ministry of Finance with officials from the Sri Lanka Customs Department Tax Officers Union (SLCDTOU). Among them were President of the Union K. M. Malalasekera, Secretary S. N. Weeratunge and Treasurer of the Union Sarath Samarasinghe. Pointing out the bookies' long-held non-participatory disposition in paying taxes to the Government, Amunugama further said he was looking forward to thwart all forms of illegal gambling. "Steps will also be taken to increase the revenue from Customs Department's Excise Tax Unit from present estimated annual income of Rs. 43 billion to Rs. 50 billion," the minister said. He advised the Customs Department's trade union leaders here to take stern action against those who engage in smuggling in cigarettes to the country. Amunugama asked Union officials to apprise him about corruption and irregularities in the Customs Department, and emphasized that they may report to him about corrupt Customs officers. The minister thanked the union and the Excise Tax Unit of the Customs Department for being contributory in increasing the monthly income from cigarettes from Rs. 1,600 million to Rs. 21,000 million under his office. |
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