by Northern BreezeOct 13, 20226:42 pm

A tax file for everyone above the age of 18 living in Sri Lanka?

On hindsight this proposal should have been introduced after the war was brought to finish in 2009. Yet protests are expected from those against the rulers for trying to adopt such a tax system in the current economic downturn.

The announcement that after the upcoming budget, a separate tax file will be opened for everyone above the age of 18 living in Sri Lanka. Truth of the matter is so far the country has had the most backward direct tax system in the world; this being the case many irresponsible parties in politics are pointing out, this was instigated by International Monetary Fund, only shows their ignorance.

In this sinario, opening a separate tax file for those above 18 years of age and bringing them into the tax-paying net is the right decision; At the same time, suggest that the government should re-examine many hidden taxes and carry out operations to reduce them, or eliminate them altogether.

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1

Lal Goonewardene on Oct 14, 2022 at 7:29 am
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1. Joke of the century?
2. Tax files (even the few that existed) went missing when needed by the ‘owners’
3. Opening a tax file may be the first step but collecting the taxes is another, particularly from those who have never paid them but got funds from commissions from project etc.
4 The banning of receipt of commissions by public servants (including politicians , who have forgotten that they are PSs) and their (specified) ‘close’ relatives would be another wish we could ask a fairy god mother, if there was overlooking Sri Lanka.
5. In Oz, even in some store competitions the terms and conditions disqualify those in the related organisations and their ‘specified’ relatives from entering! Not sure if and how they enforce this. Only window dressing? Not practical? May be they investigate the background of the 1, 2 or 3 winners, a much simpler task.
6. A public register of assets of all parliamentarians and public servants (over a certain level of responsibility) could be another discincentive for corruption.
7. If only pigs could fly????
Lal

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  Northern Breeze on Oct 14, 2022 at 12:32 pm
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  Dear Lal,
  
  Appreciate your views on opening Tax Files for all over the age of 18; note my comments on the same.
  
  1. Joke of the century? Certainly it is joke to those Sri Lankans, who have moved overseas for a better life. But come what may, life must go on for those stayed back in their motherland.
  2. Tax files (even the few that existed) went missing when needed by the owners. True, this was done by corrupt people for the benefit of some wrong people. This should not prevent Tax files being opened for those eligible tax payers.
  3. Opening a tax file may be the first step but collecting the taxes is another, particularly from those who have never paid them but got funds from commissions from project etc. Very true, opening the Tax file is only a start.
  4. The banning of receipt of commissions by public servants (including politicians, who have forgotten that they are PSs) and their (specified) relatives would be another wish we could ask a fairy god mother, if there was overlooking Sri Lanka. Please be informed Fairy God Mother left the shores, when the country was named Sri Lanka the Riots in the 1950s.
  5. In Oz, even in some store competitions the terms and conditions disqualify those in the related organisations and their relatives from entering! Not sure if and how they enforce this. Only window dressing? Not practical? May be they investigate the background of the 1, 2 or 3 winners, a much simpler task. Agreed it is not an easy task, specially as it was done to satisfy IMF; but one has to start somewhere, better late than never.
  6. A public register of assets of all parliamentarians and public servants (over a certain level of responsibility) could be another discincentive for corruption. Agreed, but this is a separate subject altogether, that require strong minded leaders, a rare breed in the island, that included all ethnic and religious communities.
  7. If only pigs could fly???? Well let’s first replace the 225 in the highest power house at the next General Election with good persons, who follow their faith.
  
  Thamby Ramar
  
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    Lal G on Oct 14, 2022 at 1:44 pm
    
    “Well let’s first replace the 225 in the highest power house at the next General Election with good persons, who follow their faith.”
    
    The ‘225’, a huge majority of whom are corrupt (irrespective of their political views) will not allow, let alone have, another election as they not only know that they won’t be re-elected but also know that they will/would/may be held to account for their past corrupt actions depending on the purity and resolve of those elected to replace them.
    
    The ‘225’ would ‘purchase’ the necessary parliamentary votes needed to make up a 2/3 majority so that they can then amend the constitution to have elections every (say) 10 years thus buying time to continue their plundering of the country’s wealth or what little that’s left of it.
    
    Once any repeats of this tactic have been exhausted and the writing is on the wall, these corrupt people would export whatever remaining funds of their not already taken out and vanish overseas to enjoy their ill-gotten gains.
    
    This is my forecast. Let’s see if any of it comes true!
    
    Regards
    
    Lal
    
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