President Mahinda Rajapakse has repeatedly proclaimed that every citizen in this country would be treated alike without any distinctions. This is also ensured in the Constitution - Art 12 (1) which categorically states that every citizen will be treated alike, meaning that that no one will be treated with favour.
Then, why are politicians and public servants receiving tax exemptions, while others who have an income of over Rs. 300,000 per annum are taxed? Is this equality before the law or under the Constitution?
The President has acted wisely by appointing a Taxation Commission who will hopefully make recommendations without fear or favour.
We the Taxpayers Association have absolute confidence that they will recommend that all politicians and public servants pay income tax on their salaries and allowances, however unpopular this may be.
It is only in Sri Lanka that a section of the population - politicians and public servants- do not pay income tax. In every democratic country, every citizen regardless of their position is taxed. In England, even the Queen pays taxes.
The US President pays taxes on his salary and allowances. A sizable number of politicians and public servants are guilty of bribery and corruption, even after drawing stupendous tax free salaries. The Commissioner General of Inland Revenue has the gumption to run advertisements, “Pay Taxes for a better future”, when he and his assistants don’t pay a cent and harass those who have tax files.
There are only about 200,000 tax payers now in the whole country whereas thousands more must be earning above the taxable level. There are about one million public servants including politicians who are living off tax payers, as opposed to 19 million who do not enjoy this exemption. The President should protect the 19 million people and not the one million public servants.
A top public servant is entitled to:
1) Two vehicles tax free
2)Fuel for each vehicle of at least Rs. 25,000 tax-free
3)Driver’s salary paid by the government tax-free
4)Electricity bill, even if they run air conditioners, tax -free
5)Telephone calls taken in their residences tax- free
6) Overseas trips
7) Land to build houses at concessionary rates
8) In addition to the two official vehicles, they are often given car permits at concessionary duty rates.
We ask you, the members of the Commission, whether this is fair in the eyes of the law. We hope you would consider these recommendations without fear or favour.
S. T. Maligaspe, President,Taxpayers
Association of the Westr
ern Province,
Ratmalana |
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