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IRD’s inability has led govts. to extract unbearable taxes from professionals, honest people

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The government can reduce taxes imposed on professionals, Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Alleviating the Impact of the Economic Crisis, MP Gamini Waleboda has said.

The MP has said professionals earn salaries, which cannot be compared to profits.

“A person who makes Rs 350,000 a month is now subject to a tax of 36 percent. Then there is inflation. They can hardly maintain the lifestyles they enjoyed, and this compels them to leave

the country. The level of brain drain is scary,” he has said.The Committee is expected present several proposals to the government on reducing taxes for professionals.

Walebodahas said that the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) is entrusted with expanding the tax net, but is unable to meet the targets due to inefficiency and a chronic shortage of personnel.

“It has been late in adopting new technology. I think we all know about what has happened to Random Access Management Information System (RAMIS) that IRD started to implement in 2012. This was to automate the tax system. There has been a 400% cost overrun. Moreover, it takes 30 minutes to register a new tax payer,” he said.

The incompetence of the IRD, which has deprived the government large amounts of potential tax revenue has compelled governments to extract unbearable taxes from professionals and honest businesses, the MP has said.

“We need to make the IRD an efficient institution soon.”



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Cabinet nod to increase the number of new automated passenger clearance gates at the Bandaranayake International Airport to 12

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Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 19.05.2025 to purchase four (04) automated passenger clearance gates for Bandaranayake International Airport.

In addition, it is expected to extend the automated passenger clearance gates facility so far given only to the Sri Lankans
parallel to the e – passport issuance system to be introduced in the year 2027 also to the foreigners who travel to and from this country.

Furthermore, considering also the number of air passengers rapidly increasing with the fast – forwarding business and tourism field, the appropriateness to increase the total automated passenger clearance gates up to twelve (12) in number has been recognized.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers,  approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs to initiate the procurement and installation of 12
automated passenger clearance gates altogether with the already approved four (04) and another eight (08) automated passenger clearance gates adhering to the formal procurement procedure

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Draft Bill for amending the Trust Ordinance

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Based on the observations submitted by the Task Force on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing for Terrorism, approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 18.12.2024 to amend the Trust Ordinance No. 9 of 1917 including amendments proposed by the Financial
Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Accordingly, clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the Trust (Amendment) Draft Bill formulated by the Legal Draftsman.

Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Justice and National Integration
to publish the said draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby, submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.

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Implementing further relief programme to Public sffected by the Middle East conflict situation

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Action was taken to provide a fuel relief for the fuel consumers during the months of April, May and June of 2026 to redress by minimizing the impact caused to the day today life of the citizens of this country as well as the entire economy due to the price hike of petroleum fuel in the global market resulting from the war situation in the Middle East.

Government mediation is essential for minimizing the impact on the day to today life of citizens in this country due to that war situation not being ended further. Therefore, it has been planned to redress on the sale price for Auto Diesel and Industrial Diesel for a period of 03 months by the Government to provide relief to the public as well as to maintain the prices at a bearable level to the consumers without escalating the fuel prices in this country compared to the escalation of fuel prices
in the international market.

Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to
allocate provisions subject to the monthly limitations respectively as rupees 15 billion for the month of October, rupees 13.5 billion for the month of November and rupees 12.15 billion for the month of December to provide the said relief

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