Minister tells tax payers: Honour commitment

Moves afoot to track evaders:

Rasika SOMARATHNA

State Revenue and Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya yesterday urged all taxpayers to honour their commitment and contribute to supplement the country's development efforts at a time the Nation has been saved by the Security Forces.

"After successfully defeating terrorism the Government is now fully geared to meet the economic and development challenges to drive the country towards greater prosperity," he added.

The Minister noted that as a Government which upheld the people's aspirations in the battle against terror, it was fully capable of delivering the goods in the economic sphere as well.

"Thus it is time for taxpayers to honour their commitment when the country needs it the most to increase State revenue and boost development," he added stressing that enhanced moves were afoot to track down evaders.

He made these observations addressing the media to announce details of a series of events organized by Sri Lanka Customs to celebrate the completion of 200 years in office.

Sri Lanka Customs, dedicated to enforce revenue protection laws of the State is considered as one of the oldest organizations in the country. Formally known as H M Ceylon Customs from 1947 to 1972, the Department's roots go back to 1806, although it formally commenced work a couple of years later. However the history of collection of customs duties in the country dates far back as Second Century BC.

Customs Director General S A C S W Jayatilake said his Department has organized a series of events to celebrate the occasion. An event will be held on August 11 under the President's patronage.

Minister Siyambalapitiya said the Opposition allegations that the Government was imposing heavy taxes on essential goods to boost State coffers was totally misleading.

He pointed out that the Government's tax concessions to the public during 2008 alone had amounted to Rs. 9,991 million. The figure up to April in 2009 is in the excess of Rs. 1,700 million, he added.

The Minister said the Government had given these welfare subsidies when most other nations were cutting down on such subsidies in the face of a severe economic recession worldwide. On the other hand, every Government depends on their tax earnings to carry out welfare and development work and Sri Lanka is no exception, he added.

*********

Tax Queries Hotline

The State Revenue and Finance Ministry has set up a 24-hour hotline to cater to queries from the public regarding issues related to tax payments, Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.

He added that senior officers could be directly reached with this newly installed hot line 060 – 21334002.