PAC discusses next step on Tax Chief

By Bandula Sirimanna

Commissioner General of Inland Revenue A.A.Wijepala denied involvement with any one in the ongoing VAT investigations as the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) decided to convene another meeting on Tuesday to ascertain as to what action has been taken on its decision to send the tax chief on compulsory leave.

The PAC took the decision calling for the suspension of Commissioner-General A.A. Wijepala when it met on October 11 under the chair of Minister Rauf Hakeem. Another proposal to appoint a Presidential Commission to investigate the Rs. 357 billion VAT fraud was also made at the same meeting, a PAC member-parliamentarian told The Sunday Times.

He said the PAC decided to send the Commissioner of Inland Revenue on compulsory leave to conduct an internal investigation under financial regulations No: 102, 103 and 104 because Rs. 357 billion of the fraud had taken place in the Inland Revenue Department.

The PAC decided to inform the decision to the Finance Secretary in writing and Mr. Hakeem was entrusted with the task of sending this letter to the Finance Secretary to take necessary action and suspend the top official.

However a senior Finance Ministry official told The Sunday Times that no such letter had been received and no disciplinary action has so far been taken against the tax chief.

Denying these charges Mr. Wijepala told The Sunday Times that he has no connection whatsoever with persons allegedly involved in the VAT fraud. He added that no disciplinary inquiry was conducted against him by the ministry and he has not been sent on compulsory leave.