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State docs sick of tax
By Apsara Kapukotuwa
State doctors are opposing government moves to tax their earnings in keeping with legislation passed in 2003. Under Section 52 A of the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act No: 37 of 2003, government servants are to be taxed. A recent notice published in newspapers said income tax files had already been opened for government servants whose total earnings exceed the tax threshold.

Reacting to this notice, the Government Medical Officers' Association said the move was unfair, as doctors had already been taxed with regard to their private income.

GMOA General Secretary Anuruddha Padeniya said doctors in Sri Lanka were underpaid and imposing a high level of tax on them was unacceptable.

"State doctors are paid a compromised salary of around Rs. 30,000 a month, plus a Rs. 2000 travel allowance. They should be paid at least Rs. 200,000 in keeping with their expertise. Though they earn extra income through private practice, it is not a privilege," a GMOA official said.

He said state medical consultants were not enjoying the privileges extended to top government officials such as ministerial secretaries and divisional secretaries who were given vehicles and fuel, telephone and other allowances. Sri Lanka has only 741 medical consultants in government service.

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