News
Govt. in desperate bid to collect tax arrears running into billions of rupees

The all-party Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has directed the Inland Revenue Department to take all possible measures to collect tax arrears running into billions of rupees. In the absence of COPA Chairman Prof. Tissa Vitharana, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, JVP member of Parliament, chaired its recent proceedings.
Dr. Amarasuriya told the Inland Revenue Department to submit a report within two to five months on taxes and penalties in default to be recovered.
The following is the text of a statement issued by the Communications Department of Parliament: “COPA directed the Inland Revenue Department to submit a report within two to five months with regard to the Taxes and Penalties in default to be recovered from tax payers without any complications and the amount where recovery is possible but contains considerable issues.
The directive to submit the report pertaining to the amount of Taxes and Penalties to be recovered without any complications related to the Legacy computer system owned by the Inland Revenue Department and the amount where recovery is possible but contains considerable issues was made by Member of Parliament Dr. Harini Amarasuriya who served as the acting Chairperson of the COPA Committee.
The acting Chairperson further instructed the department to submit a report to the Committee within five months on the amount of Taxes and Penalties in default to be recovered without any complications in relation to the RAMIS computer system and the amount where recovery is possible but contains considerable issues.
According to the Legacy system, Rs. 18 billion had been identified as tax arrears of the identified companies as at 30.03.2021, and it was disclosed that it was 17 percent compared to the total outstanding revenue of Rs. 107 billion as at June 30, 2020.
According to the RAMIS system, Rs. 87 billion had been identified as tax arrears of the identified companies on 30.03.2021 and it was disclosed that it was an increase of 47.5 percent compared to the total outstanding revenue of Rs. 183 billion as at June 30, 2020.
The Committee informed the Inland Revenue Department that all arrears pertaining to the Legacy System should be recovered expeditiously and action should be taken to end the functions of the system.
The Committee had earlier instructed the Ministry of Justice to implement a program to expedite the proceedings in the courts regarding the recovery of tax arrears and the process on this regard was taken into review.
The Ministry of Justice informed the Committee that the matter has been discussed with the Judicial Service Commission and that a proper mechanism is currently underway to expedite cases in the court proceedings regarding the recovery of tax arrears.
State Minister Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Members of Parliament Tissa Attanayake, Niroshan Perera, Dr. Upul Galappaththi and B.Y.G Ratnasekera marked their attendance at this COPA Committee Meeting which was held to review the progress of the implementation of the directives given during the discussions held on January 06th 2021 and March 10th pertaining to the Special Audit Report Taxes and Penalties in Default to be Recovered from Taxpayers.”
News
UN asks govt. to vacate ‘remaining lands still occupied and used economically by the military’

Military-held land down to 9% in North and East
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has said that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, during discussions with the Sri Lankan government, stressed the importance of releasing the remaining lands still occupied and used economically by the military.
OHCHR has included updated information provided by the government on land releases in its reports to the Human Rights Council, the OHCHR said.
OHCHR team member Jeremy Laurence said so in response to The Island query regarding the HC’s call for release of land which both serving and retired officers considered unfair.
The Island posed the following question to the HC’s office: “At the conclusion of the UNHRC Chief’s visit to Sri Lanka recently, one of the issues he raised was the failure on the part of the armed forces to vacate public and private property held in the Northern and Eastern provinces. However, the military insists that approximately 91% of the total land held at the time of the conclusion of military operations, in May 2009, had been released. We would like to know whether the UNHRC Chief hadn’t been briefed by the government of Sri Lanka or the UN Mission in Colombo on the vacation of approximately 91% of the land held by the military in 2009.
The Island contacted OHCHR as suggested by the UN Mission in Colombo.
The military pointed out that of over 24,000 acres held in the Jaffna and Kilinochchi sectors in 2009, less than 2,500 acres remained in their hands. “We are down to the bare minimum. Further reductions will pose major challenges,” one retired officer said.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
News
Need to attend to sick wild elephants promptly discussed at high-level meeting

A high-level discussion on the urgent treatment of sick wild elephants was held on Monday (July 7) at the Ministry of Environment under the patronage of Minister of Environment Dr. Dhammika Patabendi and Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody.
Senior veterinary officers representing the Wildlife and Zoological Parks Veterinary Officers’ Association participated in the discussion alongside Secretary to the Ministry of Environment Rohitha Udawawala and Director of Veterinary Services of the Department of Wildlife Conservation Dr. Tharaka Prasad.
The focus of the meeting was to streamline rapid response measures to treat elephants suffering from illnesses in the wild and to ensure timely access to life-saving antibiotics and medical resources.
Commenting on the need for swift intervention, Environment Minister Dr. Dhammika Patabendi said:
“We cannot allow delays when it comes to the treatment of our wild elephants, especially those suffering from life-threatening conditions. These majestic creatures are an integral part of our natural heritage, and it is our duty to act fast. We are committed to providing our veterinary officers with the tools, resources, and policy support necessary to carry out this responsibility efficiently.”
Discussions also focused on identifying infected elephants promptly, administering treatment without delay, and addressing any shortages in medical supplies such as antibiotics. The officials explored avenues to ensure logistical and infrastructural support for veterinarians working in the field.
Significant attention was drawn to the existing cadre shortages within the Department of Wildlife Conservation’s veterinary and technical teams. Plans were discussed to address these gaps with the approval of the Department of Management Services and the Ministry of Public Administration.
Additionally, the need to provide field veterinarians with appropriate technical facilities and mobility support was emphasized as a key priority in enabling effective on-ground operations.
The meeting concluded with an understanding that urgent procedural and administrative steps would be taken to fast-track recruitment, supply of medication, and operational improvements necessary to protect the health of Sri Lanka’s wild elephant population.
By Ifham Nizam
News
Navy seizes contraband pesticides and seeds in Puttalam and Kalpitiya

The Navy detected a significant haul of smuggled pesticides and seeds during operations conducted in Puttalam and Kalpitiya from 20 to 30 June, 2025. The separate operations also resulted in two dinghies and a lorry also being taken into custody, Navy Headquarters said.
In a search operation on 20 June, the Northwestern Naval Command’s SLNS Vijaya inspected a suspicious lorry near Alankuda Beach, Puttalam, resulting in the vehicle, along with 32 sacks of pesticide materials and seeds suspected to have been smuggled into the country, being taken into custody.
On 28 June, during another search near Ippantivu Island, Kalpitiya, naval personnel spotted and took into custody two dinghies carrying 15 sacks of pesticide materials intended for smuggling.
It is suspected that the smugglers abandoned the contraband, along with the lorry and dinghies, due to heightened naval surveillance. The seized items were handed over to the Katunayake Customs Preventive Office for further investigation and legal action.
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