News

Corrupt elements use Parliament, Finance Ministry to evade taxes

Published

3 years ago

2023/10/2

Thilina Walpola

Economic Oversight Committee Chief makes shocking allegation

Complicity of official owning Las Vegas house exposed

by Shamindra Ferdinando

Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Economic and Physical Plans Mahindananda Aluthgamage, MP, yesterday (01), said influential corrupt elements within the state revenue collection apparatus had with the help of the Finance Ministry brought in amendments to relevant laws to stifle the revenue collection process. Their actions had taken a heavy toll on the state coffers.

The government had created a system that allowed four appeals against Inland Revenue Department tax estimates, MP Aluthgamage explained, alleging that interested parties abused the parliamentary process.

The former Minister said so in response to the queries raised by The Island about his recent declaration at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) that a special unit was required to monitor Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise Departments.

Asked whether he had sought to highlight the failure on the part of parliamentary watchdog committees, the COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises), the COPF (Committee on Public Finance) and the COPA (Committee on Public Accounts), relevant ministerial consultative committees as well as the Auditor General to carry out their duties and functions properly, Aluthgamage said the fact that as much as Rs. 904 bn had not been collected as taxes over the past 15 years proved that the existing systems were flawed.

MP Aluthgamage said: “In fact, the government, at the expense of the national economy created a system for the benefit of tax dodgers. Parliament is responsible for this situation. Four appeals are not allowed in any part of the world. But the Finance Ministry and Parliament created systems that can be manipulated because the corrupt elements receive the backing of the powers that be.”

Responding to another question, MP Aluthgamage said those who had been tasked with revenue collection seemed to have been hand in glove with tax dodgers.

Aluthgamage said his committee had recently requested President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who also holds the Finance portfolio, to reduce the number of tax appeals from four to two.

MP Aluthgamage said that he had realised the urgent need for a fresh and thorough inquiry into state finance following the declaration of bankruptcy in May 2022 and the ouster of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa two months later.

The former Minister said that he wouldn’t hesitate to admit that corrupt systems remained in place regardless of the change of government in July last year. “A few months ago, a person known to me was asked to pay Rs 100 mn as tax. He got in touch with a senior revenue official, paid him Rs 10 mn and got the matter settled. When I brought this to the notice of the relevant department head, the official concerned simply said that particular officer often did so.

“Obviously regardless of the change of government and the fact that the country is begging for IMF assistance, corruption is rampant,” MP Aluthgamage said, noting that though the country was bankrupt and experienced continuing turmoil the vast majority of those who were tasked with revenue collection lived cushy lives. The Oversight Committee Chairman disclosed that one of the key Inland Revenue officials owned properties in Las Vegas, whereas another top official had walked free after being caught with heroin.

Alleging that some of those holding key positions in the revenue collection set-up collaborated with tax dodgers, the MP said that similarly the Excise Department and liquor manufacturers perpetrated massive tax frauds. Responding to another query, MP Aluthgamage emphasised that actually the increase in the price of liquor had helped certain liquor manufacturers.

Appreciating the interventions made by MP Patali Champika Ranawaka to pressure the Excise Department to do its job, MP Aluthgamage said that routine checks had revealed the widespread use of fake security tax stamps affixed to bottles of liquor countrywide. The Excise Department bosses should be held accountable for this situation as liquor manufacturers could not engage in such massive frauds without the blessings of the department.

Referring to a delay in agreement with the IMF over the releasing of the second tranche of USD 2.9 bn Extended Fund Facility (EFF), MP Aluthgamage said that the flaws in the revenue collection process, too, had contributed to the situation. The MP alleged the Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise Departments continued to undermine the revenue collection. “They always come up with lame excuses to thwart efforts to streamline tax collection,” he said.

Alleging that frauds involving the Excise Department and liquor manufacturers caused 40 percent loss in revenue, MP Aluthgamage alleged that a significant amount of that money ended up with Excise Department personnel at all levels. “This is the sad truth,” the ex-Minister said.

According to him, the Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise were required to collect Rs. 1,667 bn, Rs 1,217 bn and Rs 217 bn, respectively, this year. But so far this year, they had collected only Rs 956 bn, Rs 578 bn and Rs 109 bn, respectively, MP Aluthgamage said.

MP Aluthgamage said that he had been targeted by Inland Revenue after he raised the issues at hand publicly. “I was investigated,” the MP said, adding his efforts couldn’t be derailed by such efforts.

MP Aluthgamage said that he had urged President Wickremesinghe to take remedial measures as soon as possible. “Our continuous failure to act even after the declaration of bankruptcy is unacceptable.”

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Plans to open underutilised state land for new investment opportunities

Published

17 hours ago

2026/06/17

Priyan

A discussion between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Circular Revision Committee appointed to review and update circulars issued under the State Lands Ordinance and the Land Development Ordinance was held on Tuesday (16) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat. The Committee has been mandated to recommend to the Cabinet the cancellation of out-dated circulars, the issuance of new circulars, and the revision of existing circulars to ensure alignment with current requirements.

The Committee is chaired by the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, D.P. Wickramasinghe. Its other members include the Senior Additional Secretary to the President (Constitutional and Statutory Affairs Division), Legal Adviser to the Presidential Secretariat, an Additional Solicitor General from the Attorney General’s Department, the Additional Secretary (Lands) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, the Additional Director General of the National Budget Department, the Western Province Land Commissioner, the Divisional Secretary of Nuwaragampalatha East, the Deputy Chief Valuer of the Valuation Department and the Director (Lands) of the Mahaweli Authority.

The Commissioner General of Lands serves as the Convener of the Committee.

The Committee’s responsibilities include establishing a reliable, uniform and regularised system of land taxation within the existing legal framework, ensuring state revenue optimisation without prejudice to lessees. This includes reviewing annual lease rentals charged on long-term leases and grants, aligning related circulars with current requirements, and amending or formulating new provisions and directives where necessary.

During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on the proposals submitted by the expert committee in relation to the revision of these circulars.

The President emphasised that a new, time-appropriate policy should be formulated to address the underutilisation of State lands and to ensure their more efficient use.

Deputy Minister of Lands and Irrigation Aravinda Senarath, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Legal Adviser to the President, Senior Attorney-at-Law J.M. Wijebandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation D.P. Wickramasinghe, Additional Solicitor General of the Attorney General’s Department, President’s Counsel Ravindra Pathiranage, Commissioner General of Lands Chandana Ranaweraarachchi, Director General (Institutional Affairs), Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development J.G.L.S. Jayawardena, Additional Director General (National Budget Department) D.A. Asantha Gunasekara, and Commissioner of Lands (Leasing Division) P.K.C. Nilani Mahindaganamage, together with members of the Committee, were also present.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation also attended the meeting.

(PMD)

Business

National Export Development Plan (2026–2030) presented to the President

Published

18 hours ago

2026/06/17

Priyan

Marking an important milestone in Sri Lanka’s economic development, the National Export Development Plan (NEDP) for the period 2026–2030 was presented to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Tuesday morning (16) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The 2026–2030 National Export Development Plan (NEDP) is a key national programme formulated in line with the Government’s policy direction under the 2025 Budget. It aims to strengthen the country’s export sector and achieve export-led sustainable economic growth.

The strategic plan has been developed under the guidance of the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development and the leadership of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), with technical assistance provided through the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Policy-Based Lending (PBL) programme. It is the result of an extensive consultative process carried out in close collaboration with key government institutions, private sector stakeholders, and development partners.

The proposal submitted by the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development to recognise the “Sri Lanka National Export Development Plan 2026–2030” as the official strategic framework for export development and promotion in Sri Lanka was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on 4 May 2026. The Plan reflects a broad consensus among government institutions, private sector experts, and international development partners.

In line with the national vision of “A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life”, the Plan has been formulated to enhance Sri Lanka’s export competitiveness and achieve an export revenue target of USD 36 billion by 2030.

The core vision of the Plan is to transform Sri Lanka into a competitive logistics and knowledge-based export hub serving regional and global markets. The strategy is based on two key interconnected pillars: “horizontals” and “verticals”, which together provide the foundation for strengthening export competitiveness, diversification, and sustainable growth.

The horizontal enablers, which support the growth and expansion of all priority sectors, include logistics and integrated hub operations, trade facilitation, trade finance and reforms in the business and investment environment, trade promotion and market linkages, quality management, standards, environmental, social and governance (ESG) capacity development, as well as entrepreneurship and innovation.

The Plan also identifies eight priority export sectors to enhance export diversification and value addition, and to position Sri Lanka more competitively in global markets. These include automotive components, mineral-based industries, rubber-based industries, maritime industries (including boat and shipbuilding), spices and concentrates, digital products and services, electrical and electronic equipment, and processed food and beverages.

The preparation of the Plan involved contributions from over 300 stakeholders, including government institutions, the private sector, civil society organisations and international development partners. Broad consensus was achieved through consultations held from October to December 2025 and workshops conducted in January 2026.

The Government expects that, with implementation supported by strong governance and monitoring framework, the Plan will elevate local products to international standards and ensure long-term economic stability and growth. It is further anticipated that the National Export Development Plan will serve as a key driver of Sri Lanka’s economic progress in the years ahead.

Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, Senior Additional Secretary to the President and Secretary to the Ministry of Energy Russell Aponso, Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Thilaka Jayasundara, and Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board Mangala Wijesinghe were also present at the event.

[PMD]

News

Complaint of custodial deaths and torture submitted to UN

Published

20 hours ago

2026/06/17

Sahan Weerasooriya

Senaka and Aisha

The Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) has complained to the UN regarding custodial deaths.

Executive Director of the Committee, Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera told The Island that they had submitted written submissions to the visiting UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) on Monday (15). “We are confident that they’ll take up the issues at hand with the government and take tangible measures to improve the conditions in prisons and detention facilities,” Perera said.

The SPT is here from 15 to 24 June. The visiting delegation consists of Aisha Shujune Muhammad, Head of Delegation (Maldives), Jakub Julian Czepek (Poland), Nika Kvaratskhelia (Georgia), Anica Tomsic (Croatia) and two human rights officers from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Claiming that there had been 184 prison deaths in 2024, the Committee asserted that though there was a drop in the number of cases, the deaths caused by underlying health complications and systemic issues weren’t available at the moment.

According to a copy of the submissions made to the SPT, received by The Island, there had been seven custodial deaths this year alone, reported from various parts of the country.

The Committee took a very critical position, while Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath assured the visiting delegation that the government didn’t tolerate torture at all.

The Ministry statement Monday night quoted Herath as having described the government response as zero tolerance policy.

The Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners also dealt with several other contentious issues, including special treatment granted to those with political connections and privileged backgrounds. Perera alleged that in spite of a change of government, in 2024 September, the much anticipated improvements failed to materialise and the continuing custodial deaths highlighted the crisis in the prisons and detention facilities.

According to the Committee, the situation was so bad and further deteriorating in overcrowded prisons, the national overcrowding rate has reached an unsustainable 286.6%, with some facilities, like the Vavuniya Remand Prison, exceeding capacity by 300%.

A significant portion of this population (65.4%) consists of persons not convicted awaiting trial, the Committee said, urging the SPT to look into the pathetic situation.

The Committee also complained of torture and ill-treatment at some detention facilities. There had been cases of lawyers, visiting detention centres at Welisara and Boossa, been subjected to degrading and humiliating searches, including forced removal of clothing.

The Committee also brought to the SPT’s notice how the Supreme Court, on 14 December, 2023, held the former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Deshabandu Thennakoon, personally responsible for torture. The failure on the part of prison authorities to grant inmates a fair hearing during internal investigations, too, has been raised by the Committee.

Among the other issues that had been raised were enforced disappearances, health and medical conditions, food, water and sanitation, corporal punishments and the operation of detention facilities within military bases.

Referring to the enforced disappearance of Gonapinuwala Kapila Kumara de Silva on 27 March, 2024, the Committee alleged that the Attorney General failed to take action against the perpetrators, believed to be members of the Special Task Force (STF)

The Committee alleged that in spite of them submitting formal complaints and an urgent letter to the Attorney General demanding prosecution under the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances Act, No. 5 of 2018, the AG took no meaningful action.

Consequently, CPRP filed a Writ of Mandamus petition in the Court of Appeal (CA/WRIT/185/26) against the Attorney General and other officials, seeking judicial intervention to compel investigation and prosecution. The case remains pending

by Shamindra Ferdinando