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Charity taxed, evaders rewarded
By Chandani Kirinde
A well-known charity has protested to the Finance Minister for levying thousands of rupees from it while granting tax amnesties to the very rich.

The Colombo Friend-in-Need Society which runs the Jaipur Foot programme said that while giving a colossal tax relief to some persons, the Government had asked it to pay a two per cent duty on raw materials imported with effect from this year, on the grounds that the Treasury needed revenue.

Prior to this year, the programme has been given a tax waiver as it provides free limbs to disabled persons living country-wide.

The Society is also fighting to get a refund of over half a million rupees it was charged by in 2001 by way of fiscal levies on a direct donation made to it of a mobile workshop and service unit by the Princess Diana Fund, U.K.

The mobile unit is used as a part of the Jaipur Foot Programme to take limb fitting services to the amputees who live in remote parts of the country, the Society's President Kalyani Ranasinghe said.

She said the Society had paid Rs. 358,795 as GST, Rs. 299,097 as Defence Levy and Rs. 57,420 as stamp duty when the equipment was received.
Mrs. Ranasinghe said that all attempts made to get the refund has fallen on deaf years.

She questioned how the government could justify its action of granting tax rebates to the very rich on one hand and charging all levies on a mobile workshop that provides free limbs to amputees. She said the Society was fulfilling a humanitarian service, which should otherwise be provided by the state.

New envoy wants closer ties
The new Sri Lankan Ambassador to Italy, Rodney Perera presented his credentials to the President of Italy Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, at the Palazzo de Quirinale (Presidential Palace), recently.

The new ambassador referring to the growing links between the two countries expressed Sri Lanka's desire for Italy to play an enhanced role in the development of Sri Lanka in furtherance of bilateral relationships.

One key initiative that was discussed was the recommencement of the air service between Colombo and Rome. Referring to the positive developments in resolving the ethnic conflict, President Ciampi stated that in the near future Sri Lanka could be a useful model in other conflict situations.

Whilst urging the Government of Sri Lanka to continue to utilize existing and new resources for the welfare of its people, President Ciampi expressed his appreciation of the contribution of Sri Lankan migrant workers in Italy.

SC okays anti-crime Bill
The Supreme Court has determined that the Prevention of Organized Crime Bill is not inconsistent with the Constitution. The Court's ruling was announced in Parliament by Deputy Chairman of Committees Siri Andrahennadi recently.

The Bill makes provision for the prevention and investigation of organized crime and makes special provision for the prosecution and punishment of offenders. Opposition political parties and human rights activists have however said that the Bill gives too much arbitrary power to the police over the detention of suspects.

The schedule to the act lists 33 offences, which will be considered as organized crime, and includes intimidation and harming of witnesses, trafficking in human beings, crimes concerning military deserters, extortion, murder and robbery.

Under this Bill, police have the power to arrest a suspect without a warrant but are required to produce the suspect before the nearest magistrate within 24 hours of such arrest. If the police make an application to the magistrate that it is necessary to detain the suspect further, and the magistrate is thus satisfied, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, the magistrate can order the detention of such a person in police custody for a period not exceeding seven days.

Every person who commits an offence under this Act shall be triable without a preliminary inquiry, on an indictment before a High Court judge sitting alone without a jury.

Those sentenced by a Court for an offence under this Act shall not be eligible for release under any early release scheme as well. The Act also guarantees protection of action against any officer or person for any lawful act that they carry out under the provisions of this act. It also guarantees protection for witnesses, officers etc.

'Air Lanka' not for others, says court
SriLankan Airlines was granted the exclusive usage of the word "Air Lanka" by the Commercial High Court of Colombo, which issued a permanent injunction restraining a cargo company from conducting any business under the former name of the national carrier.

Commercial High Court judge L.K. Wimalachandra issued a permanent injunction preventing and refraining the defendant company, Air Lanka International Limited, and all those acting through it from conducting any business in any manner under the name of 'Air Lanka".

Court ordered that that all servants and agents of the company were prohibited from carrying on any business under the name "Air Lanka" or any other name identical to, similar or which merely resembles the said name.

Further the company was restrained from using "Air Lanka" in its advertisements or in any media material, stationery or on its vehicles until the final determination of the application.

Court was of the opinion that the plaintiff, SriLankan Airlines Ltd., is permitted to exclusively use the word "Air Lanka" as stated in the Registration Certificates of Trade Marks as long as the registration is in force and was entitled to exclusivity as long as the company had not expressly renounced the said rights.

Yearly reports of public bodies within 150 days
The Cabinet has directed that commencing from this year, all public enterprises must table their annual reports and accounts within 150 days of the close of the financial year.

This follows a recommendation by the Cabinet sub-committee on annual reports of statutory bodies which has been approved by the Cabinet. Presently annual reports and accounts of public corporations are first submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers and thereafter to Parliament by the respective ministers.

This procedure caused much delay in tabling annual reports in Parliament.
Under the new system, ministers are to be informed to table the annual reports and accounts in Parliament simultaneously with their submission to the Cabinet for approval.

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