Govt. keen to lift public tax burden while accumulating revenue: Ravi K

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake engaged in a sudden inspection tour of the Inland Revenue Department’s head office yesterday (8) and looked into the operations and the shortcomings of the department, which is one of the major entities that collects revenue for State coffers.

Karunanayake visited several vital sections of the department and enquired from the workers about their career difficulties. Facilities for new technology which are currently available inside the head office of the Inland Revenue building and availability of opportunities for the workers to use them were especially discussed by the Minister during his visit.

The Minister pointed out the necessity to widen the hotline centre of the department for the customers to call the department on direct telephone number 1944. He also said that certain factions were scared of the Inland Revenue Department and such unfounded fears should be eliminated from their minds. During the discussion with the top officials of the department, the Minister said that steps would be taken to identify tax evaders through a proper mechanism.

Having concluded the inspection tour, Karunanayake told media: “Our sole aim is to relieve the public from the current tax burden. To achieve such targets, we should strengthen Government bodies such as the Inland Revenue Department, which are collecting revenue for the Government. Therefore, constant surveillance should be carried out on such institutions.”

“All of us know what was done to this country by the previous regime which ruled for several years. The annual loss of Hambantota Port itself is Rs. 37,000 million. We are compelled to repay such huge loans with the income generated by Colombo Port. In the meantime, certain people question the way we are gradually correcting their economic blunders. We should tell openly that we are not going to put any of these encumbrances on the shoulders of the people,” he added.

Several top officials of the Inland Revenue Department including Commissioner General of Inland Revenue Kalyani Dahanayake participated in the discussion.