The Cabinet has put off the ratification of the appointment of Appeal Court Judge K.T. Chitrasiri as the new Commissioner-General of Inland Revenue following objections by non-Cabinet Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and protests by trade unions, government sources said yesterday.
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| Judge K.T. Chitrasiri |
Inland Revenue trade unions are protesting the appointment, saying it's the first time someone from outside the service is being appointed to this key position in the 75-year history of the department.
Justice Chitrasiri said yesterday that he had not yet received his appointment letter.
The sources said a decision would be made by the Cabinet on Wednesday whether or not to go ahead with Justice Chitrasiri's appointment. Unions are agitating for former Commissioner-General S. Angammana’s reinstatement.
Mr. Angammana quit the top IRD job two weeks ago after being appointed Director-General (Revenue) at the Finance Ministry.
When Justice Chitrasiri's appointment came before the Cabinet for ratification, Minister Siyambalapitiya is reported to have expressed reservations. He had asked for two weeks time to review the matter.
It was thereafter that Mr. Angammana was asked to take over as Tax Chief last Monday for a two-week period
An official of the joint front of trade unions said the dispute had led to a serious disruption of work in this key revenue-collecting department.
The Association of Deputy Commissioners of Inland Revenue Department, the Inland Revenue Staff Officers Association and the Inland Revenue Executive Officers Union also expressed grave concern saying they were frustrated and uneasy over what they saw as "irresponsible action of the authorities".
The unions said, despite their concerns, they were not planning to resort to trade union action in view of the present situation in the country but were opposed to the new appointment. They have sought a meeting with the President.
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