Speculation without reason

by Chamikara Weerasinghe

Deputy Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya yesterday said the ongoing agitation in the Inland Revenue Department was based on the speculation that the Government would transform it to an Inland Revenue Authority.

"These speculations were without reason since there had not been any decision as such to have been taken by the Government to convert the Department to an Authority or to privatise it," he said.

Deputy Minister Siyambalapitiya said there were discussions aimed at improving efficiency of the Department. He expressed his surprise that some Trade Unions in the Inland Revenue Department had gone to the extent of saying that there will be a lay-off of employees in line with the government's privatisation plans to reform the Department to an Authority.

'How can the workers say this when President Mahinda Rajapakse had clearly stated that no State institution would be privatised in keeping with the Mahinda Chithana, he asked.

"How can lay-off of employees take place when the President had given directions to fill vacancies of the Inland Revenue Department," he said. The President had specifically stated he would take steps to improve efficiency of three departments, namely the Inland Revenue Department, the Excise Department and the Customs to improve the income from them.

"It is not our policy to send people home, instead we plan to fill vacancies in these departments as soon as possible, " he added.

He also said the Ministry was prepared to discuss with trade unions if they have any doubts about the government's policy.