News
Govt. in a bind over massive salary and pension bill: Revenue dwindles amidst pandemic
By Shamindra Ferdinando
State Minister Dr. Nalaka Godahewa says the country is in a bind due to dwindling revenue in the face of annual state sector salary and pension bill reaching a staggering Rs 1.2 trillion.
Dr. Godahewa, who holds Urban Development, Waste Disposal and Community Cleanliness portfolios, is of the view that the issue at hand should receive the attention of all political parties represented in Parliament.
The Viyathmaga pioneer, Godahewa said so when The Island sought a clarification as regards his admission at a recent event at the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) that the government was left with Rs 200 bn after the allocation of Rs 1.2 bn for state sector salaries and pensions. The event was held to welcome those who had been recruited to the public sector.
The declaration comes in the wake of COPA (Committee on Public Accounts) faulting tax collection mechanism comprising Sri Lanka Customs, Inland Revenue and Excise Department for failing in their primary task. The annual income has fallen to just over 9 percent of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) according to the Central Bank.
The State Minister said: “There are over 1.4 mn public sector workers. There is a large number of pensioners. Annually, we need about Rs 1.2 trillion to pay salaries and pensions. In 2020, our annual income was Rs 1.4 trillion. We are left with Rs 200 bn to provide health services, education, transport et al.”
Dr. Godahewa explained the government had no option but to obtain loans to manage the economy under extremely difficult situations.
The Gampaha District lawmaker questioned the responsibility on the part of the public sector as the country struggled to cope up with the daunting challenges caused by the raging Covid-19 epidemic. He pointed out that the public sector salaries and pensions had been fully paid in spite of severe difficulties whereas the private sector had imposed unilateral salary cuts.
During his address at the NHDA, State Minister Godahewa made reference to honest as well as corrupt public sector officers and those who neglected their responsibilities. Welcoming those who had newly joined the public service, Dr. Godahewa urged them to join the genuine lot.
The State Minister said that a few irresponsible individuals shouldn’t be allowed to tarnish the image of the entire public sector.
Dr. Godahewa admitted that the government too was responsible to see whether the public sector addresses the requirements of those who needed their services.
The national economy had suffered severe setback due to the total disruption of the tourism trade that brought as much as USD 5 bn annually, he said. The State Minister explained the crippling impact the disruption of tourism was having on the national economy at an event at Walapone where he inaugurated a major construction project. The State Minister emphasized the need to kick start tourism once the ongoing vaccination drive was brought to a successful conclusion by Sept-Oct 2021.
The SLPP is under heavy fire for depriving the Treasury of over Rs 500 bn at the onset of the incumbent administration. The SJB both in and outside parliament has alleged that the Treasury lost well over Rs. 500 bn due to a controversial decision to do away with a range of taxes, including PAYE (Pay As You Earn), NBT (Nation Building Tax), Withholding tax, Capital Gains tax imposed on the Colombo Stock Exchange, Bank Debit tax and unprecedented reduction of VAT (Value Added Tax). The SJB said that the 15% VAT and the 2% NBT which amounted to 17% imposed on all goods and services were unified and reduced to 8%, effective from the first of December 2019.
SJB senior Mujibur Rahman said that the decision was taken at the first cabinet meeting of the incumbent government held on Nov 27, 2019.
News
Sun directly overhead Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon today (07)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (07) are Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon.
By Norman Palihawadane
The CID recently found that former SLPP Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara, better known as ‘Choka Malli’, had left for Thailand when the Supreme Court imposed an overseas travel ban on him last Friday.
The CID discovered that Jayasekara had left Sri Lanka on August 31, while authorities were taking steps to enforce the travel restriction imposed by the Supreme Court. The Department has subsequently informed the Attorney General’s Department of the development.
The Supreme Court last Friday ordered Jayasekara, and two other men, to appear before court on October 21, and imposed a ban on their overseas travel.
The orders were made as the Supreme Court considered an appeal challenging the acquittal of the three men in connection with the 2015 murder of Shantha Dodangoda, also known as D.G. Sunil Perera.
The appeal was filed by Dodangoda’s wife against a decision of the Court of Appeal to acquit and release Jayasekara and the two other accused, who had previously been convicted and sentenced to death by the Ratnapura High Court.
Dodangoda was killed in a shooting in Kahawatta town, in the early hours of January 5, 2015, while a group of people were putting up decorations for an election rally in support of then common Opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena.
Two others, Karunadasa Weerasinghe and Mohamed Ilfan, were seriously injured in the shooting.
Following the incident, the Ratnapura High Court convicted Jayasekara, former Chairman of the Kahawatta Pradeshiya Sabha Wajira Darshana de Silva, and former Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council member Nilanta Jayakody, sentencing all three to death.
The Court of Appeal subsequently acquitted the three men and ordered their release.
The victim’s wife later challenged the acquittal before the Supreme Court.
The appeal was taken up before a Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Achala Wengappuli and Gihan Kulatunga.
During the proceedings, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara requested that the court impose overseas travel restrictions on Jayasekara and the other respondents.
The Supreme Court subsequently ordered all three to appear before the court on October 21 and imposed travel bans on them.
President’s Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty, President’s Counsel U.R. de Silva and President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne appeared for the respondents. President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris represented the aggrieved party.
Police sources said that the discovery that Jayasekara had already left for Thailand, on August 31, has raised concerns over the timing and enforcement of the travel ban.
Sources said that the CID had notified the Attorney General’s Department and was taking further action in relation to the development.
By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon
The number of deaths from dengue fever in Sri Lanka has risen to 73 this year, with 96,228 cases reported across the country so far, according to the Dengue Control Unit.
The latest figures indicate that dengue continues to pose a significant public health concern, with 737 new cases recorded during the first four days of September alone.
Dengue infections peaked in July, when 29,964 cases were reported, according to the latest data. June recorded the second-highest monthly total, with 21,533 cases, while 10,155 cases were reported in August.
Earlier in the year, 8,590 cases were recorded in May and 7,866 cases in January.The Western Province remains the worst-affected area, accounting for more than half of all dengue cases reported nationwide. A total of 50,851 cases have been recorded in the province, representing 52.84% of the country’s total.
The Southern Province has recorded 13,950 cases, followed by the Central Province with 8,818 cases and Sabaragamuwa Province with 7,925 cases.
Sun directly overhead Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon today (07)
Showers above 50 mm are likely at some places in the Uva and Eastern provinces.
Harshitha’s composed knock seals Sri Lanka’s semi-final berth
‘Choka Malli’ slips out of country before travel ban
Dengue death toll rises to 73
Ranil accuses govt. of undermining democracy
‘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
-
News4 days agoDenied of promotion to SC despite vacancies, justice Gurusinghe retires
-
Latest News5 days agoGrade 5 scholarship exam results released
-
News4 days ago22A: SC urged to suspend hearing, appoint full bench
-
Midweek Review5 days agoThe local and global dynamics of Sri Lanka’s 22nd Amendment
-
News4 days agoGovt. seeks NATO assistance
-
News2 days agoNamal remanded until Sept. 18 over Airbus deal investigation
-
News5 days ago40 professional organisations and TU oppose proposed 22A
-
News5 days agoAi-CHA expands Lankan footprint with new Negombo outlet