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Collecting more revenue by taxes

After the UNP Government was returned in 1977 in the name of liberalisation of the economy, Sri Lanka has been the dumping ground for more sub-standard goods and much needed foreign exchange is wasted and sent down the drain, all types of goods and everything is available in plenty, but at a price.

In this process, several thousands of people have become rich, with shops stacked with all items and some way more business establishments have been opened throughout the length and breadth of the country due to the free liberalisation of the trade policy of then Government and not to mention the big time smugglers and drug traffickers.

In the good old days when you bought a vehicle or a house property you get a letter from the Department of Inland Revenue inquiring whether you have a Tax File, as the Department of Motor Traffic and the Registrar of Lands have furnished this information to the Department of Inland Revenue.

There should be more than 800,000 working professionals in the country - doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, businessmen, importers and Stock Exchange investors, etc. who earn more than Rs. 25,000 per month, and (within tax limit of Rs. 300,000) yet do not pay any taxes.

People in this country must understand whichever government that comes to power they need money to keep up the economy and the services, free education, free health services, Samurdhi funds, etc.

I would like to make a suggestion to harness the services of the Grama Sevakas who could assist the government in collecting more revenue.

These Grama Sevakas could be requested through the Ministry of Home Affairs under whose jurisdiction they belong to furnish the names and addresses of all business establishments and new rich within their Grama Sevakas Divisions, whether they are big or small people, in his opinion come within the Tax net of earning Rs. 25,000 per month or more. These tax evading parasites could be rounded up by the Inland Revenue Department, regional offices.

If I can remember when we were under the colonial rule, then Governments obtained all information at grass root level through the Village Headmen System prevailing at that time. Those days you cannot even lodge a complaint direct to the Police, you have first to complain to the Village Headmen, he knows all characters of his area, rich and the poorest of the people.

These present day Grama Sevaka Niladaris should be given an incentive (rewards) if their information bears fruitful results.

Most of the present day professionals in every field are those who have benefited on the tax payers money for free education (thanks for the late C.W.W. Kannangara) received from the kindergarten to the universities and assistance from the Mahapola Scholarship, etc. they now owe their services and return back something to the government and the people.

Why burden the middle and low income families who have to face the ever escalating cost of living specially for purchasing food items etc. and transport.

F. A. RODRIGO-SATHIANATHAN,
Kelaniya

'Chelvanayakam was the Tamil people'

Reference is made to the article written by C.V. Vivekananthan on the above title. (DN April 6)

The writer has stated that most of the Sinhalese leaders gave up Christianity in favour of Buddhism to gain their political mileage.

This statement of the writer is only a conjecture. Has he got any evidence to support this? Any person whether he is a Buddhist or a Christian or a Muslim can change his religion on his conviction. It is very clear that the writer has made this insinuation to sling mud at Sinhalese leaders and to show that how great their leaders are.

In a similar manner, people can say that Tamil leaders did not change their religion because of the fear of losing the favours they got from thier colonial masters.

What the writer has failed to realise is that all those leaders who alleged to have changed the religion are now dead and gone and they are not able to defend themselves. It is not ethical to discredit dead people.

One of the greater leaders who changed the religion was S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike who did a yeoman service to Sinhalese people by making the Sinhala the official language.

He had a thorough knowledge of Buddhism and the knowledge of Buddhism made him to change his religion.

The writer in his article has referred to a statement made by Ven. Hewanpola Ratanasara thera. Unlike the writer, Ven. Hewanpola Ratanasara criticised Chelvanayakam when he was alive.

So Chelvanayakam had an opportunity to reply him.

Anybody has a right to venerate his leaders. But it should be done in a way not to hurt the feelings of the other people whether they belong to majority or minority community.

DHARMARATNE,
Ratnapura

Ibbankatuwa tombs

Recently, this writer had the opportunity of visiting the 'Ibbankatuwa tombs' situated on the Kurunegala-Dambulla Road, in close proximity to Dambulla, while going on a cultural tour of the North Central Region organized by an innovative Travel Company, which is bent on promoting domestic tourism. Two students of Archaeology from a local University had been included in the tour party for the purpose of explaining to the tourists, places of historical and cultural interest.

According to the explanations regarding the Ibbankatuwa tombs given by these students of archaeology, they date back to over 15000 years. Similar to the Pyramids of the ancient Egypt, all the articles used by the deceased persons had been deposited in the respective tombs.

Such articles discovered during the excavations carried out in this location suggest that there had existed a pre-historic civilization in this area and since a certain variety of gems embedded in the necklaces found in these tombs are available only in India, archaeologists believe that there had been links between Sri Lanka and India even during the pre-historic ages. These tombs are undoubtedly of immense archaeological value to us.

However, it is surprising that this important archaeological site has not been adequately protected.

The relevant authorities should take necessary steps to protect and preserve this site for the benefit of the posterity.

P. PREMADASA,
Maharagama

Patching up of potholes

Swindling of large sums of public funds by corrupt henchmen of politicians by awarding contracts for patching up of potholes on roads under the administration of the Municipal Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas has continued in the same vein.

In this country the motorists are subjected to severe stress and their vehicles are prone to constant repairs while driving on roads invariably having potholes. These disintegrated roads are rampant in our network of roads, islandwide.

The good example is the contract given to perhaps a henchmen of politicians to patch up the potholes along Wanawasala Road, Kelaniya, when the Prime Minister visited recently to erect the statue of the former Chief Incumbent of the Sri Sudarmaramaya temple, Wanawasala. Incidentally, it is learnt that during his tenure at the temple he had been instrumental in the establishment of the Wanawasala railway station. The road with a number of visible potholes, were temporarily patched up for PM's journey.

The following day just after one shower of rain, the entire road, which was patched up was washed away and the road was seen to have come back to the same condition with the emergence of the original potholes that existed earlier.

The authorities concerned should ensure that this type of inferior quality of patching up methods adopted by unscrupulous elements, which waste public funds, should be stopped forthwith.

SUNIL THENABADU,
Mt. Lavinia

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