News
Sajith defends progressive taxation, highlights inequality
ECONOMYNEXT –Days after he lambasted the government for its tax policy, Sri Lanka opposition leader Sajith Premadasa defended progressive taxation noting a serious income inequality in the crisis-hit South Asian nation.In a meeting held in Kandy with the city’s business community, Premadasa said the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has a team of politicians who are experts on economic policy formulation.
“There is serious imbalance (inequality) in our country. Eighty percent of our tax revenue is from indirect taxes. The remaining 20 percent is through progressive taxation where the tax paid increases as income rises,” said Premadasa.
Progressive taxation is fair and equitable, he said.
“What we first need to do is correct this imbalance. We have practical economists with us. There needs to be politicians who understand monetary policy, tax policy and all national policies. The politician cannot be subservient to the advice of officials alone.
“Our political team is one that possesses great knowledge of economic policy,” he added.Speaking at an election rally in Thambuttegama on February 12, the SJB leader criticised the government for its income tax hike.
“The ali pohottu kaputu government is burdening the people with taxes. We hear they’re planning to impose a tax on people who earn 45,000 rupees a month too. Just great,” said Premadasa addressing a large crowd of SJB supporters.
Premadasa was likely referring to reports that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had asked the government to impose taxes on anyone who earns above 41,667 rupees a month as a condition for a 2.9 billion US dollar extended fund facility. However, the tax threshold remains at 100,000 rupees a month and there is no indication yet that it will be lowered.At an economic summit organised by the SJB in Colombo on February 14, SJB legislator Harsha de Silva presented the party’s proposals for tax reform under an SJB government.
The MP said the party supports progressive tax and that the highest earners should even pay as 39 percent if not more. He also took a swipe at rival opposition group the National People’s Power (NPP) which recently proposed that the tax threshold be increased to 200,000 rupees a month and the highest tax rate be capped at 24 percent.
The SJB’s Economic Blueprint acknowledges that the government has conducted tax reforms, but in its implementation has imposed too high a burden on Sri Lanka’s middle class, disincentiviseing exporters.
The document noted: Both personal and corporate income taxes have been revised. Personal income tax threshold and slabs were reduced, and marginal tax rates revised upwards. The VAT rate was increased, and the threshold was revised downwards, helping expand the tax net.
However, the revised personal and corporate income tax rates are much higher than in the 2017 Inland Revenue Act. The significant increase in personal income tax via PAYE during high inflation has imposed significant burdens on most professional groups. Tax slabs should be broadened in such a way that professionals (perhaps earning up to LKR 500,000 per month) are subjected to a top marginal tax rate of around 25% with the highest marginal rate going up to around 40% for the very high income earners with a temporary surcharge).
It must be noted that the government’s estimate of LKR 100 bn in PAYE tax collection for 2023 is highly questionable given the recent statements in Parliament by the State Minister of Finance that only 120,965 persons were liable to PAYE tax from over 1.1 mn registrations at the end of 2019. An urgent study must be conducted on this discrepancy and steps must be taken immediately to ensure those who are liable to pay taxes, pay.
Beyond PAY, it is essential that citizens of all walks of life who by various means avoid paying taxes are brought into the tax net. The only way to meet the objective of a genuine and stable increase in taxes is by expanding the base, not by squeezing to the bone the few who pay.
The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) yesterday accused the government of seeking to use the proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Act (PSTA) to suppress popular political activity, claiming that some of its provisions were more repressive than those of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
FSP Education Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda told a media briefing, in Nugegoda, that the definition of terrorism in the Bill was so broad that it could be used to label almost any form of popular political activity as terrorism.
He said the Bill’s approach to defining terrorism was based largely on attempts to compel a government, or an international organisation, to do, or refrain from doing something, rather than on internationally recognised criteria, such as killings, causing serious bodily harm, kidnapping or acts intended to spread terror among the public.
Jayagoda also alleged that the Bill transferred substantial powers from the judiciary to the executive, while extending powers of arrest, investigation and detention to the armed forces, in addition to the police.
He claimed that the government had sought to portray the Bill as a replacement for the PTA while retaining or introducing provisions that could facilitate political victimisation and repression.
The FSP also questioned the government’s decision to proceed with the Bill, despite having previously sought public views on an earlier draft.
Jayagoda said a draft had been published earlier this year, with the period for public submissions ending on February 28, but the Bill subsequently gazetted was essentially the same draft with some provisions rearranged.
Jayagoda also referred to a letter reportedly sent by Attorney-at-Law Saliya Peiris, a member of a Committee, chaired by President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsecularatne, that had been appointed to draft the legislation. He said Peiris had stated, in the October 06 letter, that changes had been made to the draft prepared by the Committee.
“This means that even the Committee, appointed to prepare the Bill, was a deception,” Jayagoda alleged.
He said that the PSTA was fundamentally similar to the Anti-Terrorism Bill introduced by the previous government, in 2023, which the National People’s Power (NPP) opposed and challenged in court.
“If the NPP opposed that Bill then and is now bringing the same legislation before Parliament, the government must explain its position,” he said.
Jayagoda called on NPP MPs to oppose the PSTA in Parliament and urged trade unions and other groups to build a broad public movement against the legislation.
He challenged the government to an open debate on the Bill.
Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa was yesterday remanded until 13 October after being produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court following her arrest by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
Shiranthi, wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was arrested at her residence on Poorwarama Road, Kirulapone, after CIABOC officers recorded a statement from her for nearly two hours.
According to the CIABOC, the arrest was made over allegations that Rs. 10 million obtained from the National Savings Bank through the Siriliya Saviya organisation was misappropriated.
The money was allegedly obtained to provide a Computed Tomography (CT) scanner to the children’s hospital. Investigators allege that the scanner was not provided and that the funds were instead unlawfully used.
CIABOC is investigating alleged offences under the Public Property Act and corruption-related provisions in connection with the transaction and other financial activities involving Siriliya Saviya, which was headed by Rajapaksa.
Rajapaksa returned to Sri Lanka on Monday night on a flight from Malaysia after travelling overseas for medical treatment. She left for Singapore on 16 September after being admitted to a private hospital in Colombo on 15 September following an illness.
She had been due to appear before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) on 13 October in connection with its investigation into the financial affairs of Siriliya Saviya.
Meanwhile, her lawyers filed an anticipatory bail application before the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court on Monday, seeking an order preventing her arrest in connection with the FCID investigation.
Former National Savings Bank (NSB) Chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam was yesterday granted bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court following his arrest by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
Kariyawasam, husband of former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, was arrested in connection with the Bribery Commission’s investigation into the ‘Siriliya Saviya’ account linked to former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa.
The investigation concerns financial activities involving the Siriliya Saviya initiative, which was headed by Rajapaksa, wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
CIABOC is continuing investigations into the alleged financial irregularities relating to the account.
Showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva and Southern provinces and in Anuradhapura district
PSTA worse than PTA: FSP
Shiranthi R remanded until 13 Oct.
Former NSB Chairman Kariyawasam granted bail
Katchatheevu row: India SC urges fishermen to avoid Sri Lankan waters
Remembering Juvenal, Coke, Acton and Machiavelli
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Editorial7 days agoColombo Port drug bust: The plot thickens
-
Features5 days agoThe first woman in the foreign service or Ceylon Overseas Service it was then called
-
Editorial6 days agoFuelling discontent and protest
-
News4 days agoGeneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations
-
Foreign News5 days agoTen injured after car crashes into rugby supporters in Australia
-
Latest News6 days agoTharindu Rathnayake, bowlers secure Asian Games Bronze for Sri Lanka
-
News5 days agoNearly 20 Iranian tankers stranded off Lanka amid US sanctions
-
Features4 days agoSri Lanka Cricket Bill: Governance reform is not yet a cricket strategy