Protest against moves to extend Tax Chief’s term

By Bandula Sirimanna

Department of Inland Revenue employees are vehemently protesting against the possible extension of controversial Inland Revenue Commissioner General A.A. Wijepala who is due to retire on March 8 when he reaches 60 years.

A spokesman of the Joint Committee of Trade Unions of the Sri Lanka Inland Revenue Service told The Sunday Times that there is a move to extend the service of Mr Wijepala or to appoint another official without considering the seniority, merit and ability to handle functions as the head of the department. The unions have brought this matter to the notice of the President in a letter signed by four trade unions -- Inland Revenue Deputy Commissioners Association, Inland Revenue Staff Officers Union, Inland Revenue Executive Officers Union and Inland Revenue Service Union.

Union officials said Mr Wijepala is making valiant attempts to gain his service extension or to persuade the Finance Ministry to appoint one of his ‘friendly’ junior officers to the post of Commissioner General of Inland Revenue in order to safeguard his own future as there are allegations against him for involvement in various corrupt and irregular practices in the department including the VAT fraud amounting to Rs.3.57 billion.

This was highlighted in the findings of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee. The crisis over Mr Wijepala was raised during two meetings between State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyamabalapitiya, Finance Secretary Dr. P. B. Jayasundara and senior officers, staff members and representatives of all trade unions recently. At one of these meetings, Dr Jayasundera reiterated that the appointment of the Commissioner General will be made by the Cabinet, after which department employees decided to write to the President on this issue.

They urged the President to appoint the most senior and efficient officer to this post without deviating from accepted norms and principles. Recently the Public Accounts Committee urged the Government to initiate an investigation against Mr Wijepala.