Arrange television debate to dispel misconceptions

Tax Officers write to Finance Ministry Secretary

The Sri Lanka Inland Revenue Tax Officers Union has written to Finance and Planning Ministry Secretary Dr. P. B. Jayasundara requesting him to arrange a live television debate to clear certain misconceptions created in public minds regarding proposed amendments to regulations relating to cadre and promotions in the Inland Revenue Department.

The Union in its letter has pointed out that at a meeting, presided over by Finance and Planning Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama and attended by high officials and trade union representatives, a justifiable decision was taken to increase the cadre of Senior Assessors and Assessors and to absorb all tax officers including Senior Tax Officers into the Assessors cadre.

But, now the Inland Revenue Staff Officers Union was allegedly trying to tactfully abort this move by making baseless allegations against this decision.

The letter signed by Union President M. K. Sarath Weerasuriya and Joint Secretaries D. M. Bandara Dissanayake and J. A. S. J. Bandara has requested Dr. Jayasundara to arrange a television debate in order to face these allegations and any misconceptions they may have created in the public mind.

Two representatives each from unions supporting and opposing the government's decision and the Inland Revenue Reform Committee Chairman and Deputy Secretary to the Treasury S. B. Divaratne should be invited to participate in this debate the letter has suggested.