Citizens' Mail
The above tax has been passed by Parliament on January 7 and had
become effective from February 1.
The necessary particulars were published in the press on January 27.
This is a tax which could be simply computed and paid by the tax payers.
Further the returns also could be easily verified by the Department
of Inland Revenue.
Whenever a new tax is introduced by the Government, there is a
targeted revenue which has to be achieved. If not the rate has to be
increased or more taxes are to be introduced which would be an
additional burden to the public at large.
Therefore, I appeal to all to make this important levy a successful
operation. They should study the details and co-operate with the
Government accordingly.
I quote below few particulars of Nation Building Tax;
(1) Rate 1 per cent on turnover
(2) Importers on value ascertained under Section 6 of VAT Act for the
purpose of VAT. Manufacturers and service renders on turnover (excluding
VAT and special excise duty)
(3) The minimum turnover should be Rs. 650,000 per quarter.
(4) Buying and selling exempt.
(5) Hotels, guest houses, restaurants or any other similar business
if registered with Sri Lanka Tourist Board also exempt.
(6) There are several exemptions granted (export turnover, supply of
water, medical service etc). These exemptions have to be carefully
studied before making tax commitments.
(7) Input claim permitted only for manufacturers.
(8) Monthly payment (1st and 2nd) should be made on or before 20th of
the following month. Final payment and the quarterly return submission
be made on or before 20th of the day of the month immediately succeeding
the end of that quarter.
There are two clarifications to be made by the Department of Inland
Revenue.
(A) It is stated that an installment for a quarter is an amount not
less than one third of the NBT payable for that quarter. This is not
correct. It should be stated as previous quarter. Monthly payment should
be made on actual information available on or before 20th of the
following month. If actual information is not available then payment
should be not less than one third of the NBT payable for the previous
quarter.
(B) After making 1st and 2nd monthly installment you may observe that
the quarterly turnover is less than Rs. 650,000. In that case, no NBT is
payable for that quarter. The 1st and 2nd installments paid could be set
off against payment for the next quarter. (The Act is silent in this
issue)
I appeal to the business community not to use this levy as an excuse
to increase the selling price. All exemptions have to be checked to
ensure that the correct tax is charged.
This tax is not prescribed and therefore is an allowed expenditure
for income tax purpose like turnover tax paid to the Provincial Council.
The Department of Inland Revenue could change this position with proper
amendment in the future. However, we could believe that the necessity
for such action will not arise.
Public at large could obtain clarifications from the officials of
Department of Inland Revenue who will be pleased to assist them. Tax
consultants, Trade Chambers also should extend their support to make
this levy operation successful.
S. R. Balachandran
Council Member
The National Chamber of
Commerce of Sri Lanka
It is an accepted fact that television was introduced to Sri Lanka by
Japan for the purpose of broadcasting educational programs. But it is
ironical that teledramas have made a great impact on the social life of
people including children in such a way that their aesthetic sense and
in-born talent are distorted.
Some researchers have pointed out that the younger generation is
disgusted with the family life and marriages due to endless family
disputes shown through teledramas.
Many teledrama writers tend to stress the pessimistic aspect of
family life. As a result, family conflicts, wife-beatings, drunkenness,
drug addiction, land disputes and divorces which are depicted through
teledrama characters, have led to the frustration of the youth. I
overheard a harrowing tale related by one lady teacher when she was
travelling in a train. According to her, one Grade 3 boy learning in a
leading school in Colombo has requested his father to give the names of
five worst women in the world.
His father has not been able to reply. Therefore, the boy has given
the names of four teledrama actresses. Father has asked the name of the
fifth woman. "That woman is my mother," the boy has replied. This goes
to prove that the way the celluloid heroines who act in the teledramas
shown by private TV channels distort the mind of the children. Some
mothers also contribute to this tragedy who ignore their duties to be
discharged on behalf of children.
There are instances when some husbands have divorced their wives due
to family disputes over teledrama watching, according to the teacher.
Unfortunately, for many housewives, teledramas have become the 'be
all and end all' of social life. The hungry and tired children who come
home late in the evenings after schools and tuition classes are
compelled to wait until their mothers finish watching their favourite
teledramas.
It is said that the child is the father of man: man has to learn a
lot of things from the children. It is unavoidable that the parents
neglect of children's duties and anti-social behaviour, incur the wrath
of their children themselves. It is the duty of anybody, who is in
her/his right sense, to be exemplary to their children who are to become
good citizens in the country.
R. Somasiri
Pannipitiya
It is an anti-health scene outside the Kandy Market where unsafe,
uncovered food items are kept for sale. Since these food items are sold
at cheap rates, people quickly buy and consume them. But as soon as they
get back home, they will fall sick due to stomach disorder. Then, they
are compelled to rush to hospital or private doctors for treatment.
Sometime, they have to pay a big amount of money for tablets and
capsules.
It is the bounden duty of the health authorities of the Municipal
Council to check such unsafe, unhealthy sale centres of food items and
take immediate action against pavement sellers. They must be instructed
to use safe sales centres for carrying on their business.
Another place where contaminated food items are sold, is just near or
opposite the schools during the interval hours. The principals and the
school administrations should keep an eye on such sellers of unhealthy
drinks and foods.
M.Y.M. Meeadh
Kandy
The aim of education is to improve the talents of an individual with
his or her academic knowledge. Various talents of children appear
without the intervention of teachers or adults.
Among children you come across, some are capable of playing musical
instruments with the capacity of a grown up. There are born artists or
musicians. These talents are explained to have in their genes.
How are the Super Stars categorised? Are they born with talents?
Media organisations spend months or sometimes years in roaming with
local youngsters round the island (some with day to day beggars in buses
or trains) in leading tourist resorts.
They are supposed to select the best talents from the competitors.
What songs do they sing? They imitate our specialised local veterans
like Amaradewa, Victor Ratnayake, Edward Jayakody or Nanda Malinee.
The Media organisations get income through advertisements and Tele
organisations through SMS messages.
The winners are presented with vehicles worth millions. The
lyricists, the music composers or the singers are not spoken of.
Innovations from talented personnel are used by others for their
personal gain. Isn't it worthwhile considering a fair share of the
income is presented to the real innovators?
One competitor (Young girl) sang 'Sri Lanka Matha' that was sung by
Indian singer Latha Mangeskar in one of the channels.
We too, just ordinary viewers, observed that her singing was not
totally up to the expected standard.
One of the judges commented that her singing as Adahagannath Behe.
Thereafter, on the Independence day, Nirosha Virajini sang the same song
in another channel and her singing was so superb that her performance
was no second to Latha Mangeskar.
Every listener would have appreciated her singing. Somathilaka
Jayamaha, one of our most talented singers, commenting on these two
incidents over the National Channel explained the absurd comments of
judges and he too appreciated the singing of Virajini.
He further commented that these Super Stars so selected made to
appear more superior than the most talented and experienced singers, and
what he tried to emphasise was that these selected contestants be known
as Adunika Supiri Tharu (Amateur Super Stars) thereby allowing our
talented and experienced singers to have their due and expected position
in society.
Tikiri Bandara Ekanayake
Ampitiya
Nugagoda and Delduwa are two undeveloped villages with less
facilities located close to Waskaduwa.
There is no post office or sub post office in Nugagoda. The Grama
Niladhari Officer who has been serving in Nugagoda is also very much
inconvenienced due to the unavailability of a permanent office or place
to carry on her duties. The general public are disturbed and greatly
worried about not having any successful mode of transport from
Wadiyamankada junction to Delduwa, after 6.30 p.m. daily.
I hope those who are responsible in the Government will take
necessary actions to look into these problems and benefit these two
villages.
H. L. Sunil Shantha
Waskaduwa
Petroleum sector has always been a service-oriented sector rather
than a profit-oriented sector in Sri Lanka from the inception. The
conventional methods and systems had been carrying on for years and
years.
In the aftermath of any major election, the cronies and the
supporters of the winning party are craving to join this petroleum
sector in order to savour the plums of this organisation, where most of
them can survive with hardly any return from them to the organisation.
Prior to petroleum sector could experience the unexpected turmoil in
dramatic and steep escalation in oil prices, history reveals that the
pattern of volatility of the global oil prices seemed to be somewhat a
natural or common phenomenon, and petroleum sector was able to cushion
the adverse impact of the usual escalation of the oil prices right
along, against the subsequent decline in global oil prices, and avail
the fuel prices stagnating for a considerable period in the country.
This stagnation in prices over a longer period contributed healthy
effects to the industries, power sector etc, and almost to the whole
economy in the country.
With the advent of the free trade economy, free trade agreements with
various countries etc, import bills in the country were risen
considerably, whilst respective other countries emerged the utmost
benefit over Sri Lanka, and massive trade deficit was reflected.
In this backdrop, prevailing Government was almost forced to veer for
other avenues to rejuvenate the petroleum sector. With this, the new
strategy of liberalisation of the petroleum sector came into effect with
many hindrances.
In order to get the best yield to the organisation, Voluntary
Retirement Scheme was implemented to reduce the strength of the
organisation.
In the flurry of activities and uncertainty prevailed in the
organisation, considerable segment of employees left the service
including well-experienced hands.
Most amasingly many recruitments were made subsequently, with hardly
any return to the organisation.
In the course of rejuvenation, the most saddening fact is that, there
is absolutely no accountability, to ascertain the productivity of the
employees categorically, which is a strong essence towards the viability
of the organisation.
Has the Sri Lanka Government now achieved their expectations through
the liberalisation? Has the Government ceased the burden through the
liberalisation? Has the organisation increased their productivity?
Certainly not.
It is the other player who is running magnificently is the ultimate
beneficiary, neither the public sector nor the consumer.
With the recent turmoil in oil prices, which were highly detrimental
to the economy, petroleum sector with the influence of the Government,
was forced to gear for innovative instruments to curb the intensity of
rising oil prices.
With the prudent idea of averting the impending disaster in the
economy and the country, they ventured on a crucial but bold step to
proceed with a hedging contract which is to be commendable,
unfortunately the terms and conditions were irregular and lack of
proficiency in this field was patently shown.
Petroleum sector (oil) is almost the base of the economy, and
Government and the relevant authorities should take every appropriate
measures to give the best price to the consumer.
The most important factor is to de-politicise the organisation and we
should make use of the luminaries, we have in our country, who can act
as independent bodies, without undue intervention.
This sector should not be treated only as a service-oriented sector,
and the irregularities, inefficiency, lack of productivity etc. should
be addressed effectively, which eventually become a boon to the economy
in the country.
There should be an independent body with expertise to monitor and fix
the price formula. The irreversible jeopardy that we are now faced with,
could be an eye opener to relevant authorities to re-establish the
petroleum sector vigorously to avoid any disasters in the future.
Mangalika Wijetunge
Mattegoda
Sri Pushparama Mawatha of Pothupitiya administered by the Kalutara
Pradeshiya Sabha has been in a state of total disrepair for over two
decades.
This is due to the negligence on the part of the authorities
concerned. On rainy days the road gets completely submerged and becomes
inaccessible causing immense inconvenience particularly to
schoolchildren and office workers.
We appeal to the Ministers and MPs who represent the Kalutara
District to allocate funds to renovate the road which is long overdue.
Palitha Senaratne
Pothupitiya, Wadduwa
Can a reader please enlighten the Sri Lankan Theravada Buddhists on
this disgusting object?
What is it? From where are these funny caricature forms brought and
why they were permitted to be brought to our country? A country where,
to us, the Buddhists, the word 'Buddha' is supreme and non comparable.
It is shocking to note that so far no Sri Lankan Buddhist Association
(There is a Ministry too for Buddha Sasana) has taken notice of this.
Doesn't any one care?
Perhaps introducing and promoting the sale of these so called Pot
bellied grotesque objects by certain anti-Buddhist elements is done with
the intention of ridiculing and insulting our religion.
Is there no way of banning their sale and display?
Laki Rajapakse
Minuwangoda
Some years ago, a physician connected with one of the life Insurance
Companies came into one Insurance office and, noticing a scale in the
corner, stepped on it to weigh himself. He tipped the scale at 200
Pounds.
'Doctor, why don't you reduce?' One officer asked him.
'I don't seem to be able to do it," he replied almost apologetically.
'It's simple; all you have to do is eat less. He hemmed and hawed,
and finally came up with the answer that he was working too hard and
therefore 'could not control his appetite.'
Ananda Wijayaweera
Ratmalana
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