Everyone in the trickster newspaper will be sent to prison’ – Ravi raves at Sathhanda
Jan 03, 2017
At a New Year ‘Kiribath’ treat for heads and editors of media institutions at Temple Trees yesterday (02), finance minister Ravi Karunanayake raved at ‘Sathhanda’ deputy editor Prabhath Weeraratne that ‘Everyone in the trickster newspaper will be sent to prison.’The minister was that angered due to a poster being pasted in a weekly campaign by the newspaper and its having published a full-page article on him.
Everyone present heard Karunanayake’s threat, but Weeraratne did not respond to it. Later, national newspaper editors and ministers came to him and said, “Only Sathhanda is not afraid of telling the truth. We do not have that freedom. Continue that task for the sake of the country.”
Meanwhile, the finance minister did not invite his state minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena to its New Year Kiribth treat yesterday. Abeywardena was to have his Kiribath treat at his ministry today. Karunanayake might not have invited me for his party, but I would invite him for mine, he said.
Given below is the Sathhanda article that angered the minister:
‘Yahapaalana’ too, give preferential treatment to Nandana Lokuwithana
A decision has been taken by president Maithripala Sirisena to withdraw the unreasonable taxes imposed by ‘Yahapaalana’ government on all steel importers, excepting Ceylon Steel Corporation Ltd (Lankawa – Steel Corporation). Chairman of the Corporation is Nandana Jayadeva Lokuwithana, accused of frontman for Rajapaksas in various businesses.
There was speculation that the true owner of the institution was Basil Rajapaksa. Lokuwithana bought Dubai Marriot Hotel during the previous regime. It is highly suspicious that the finance ministry has given tax concessions to a person facing such disreputable accusations.
A CESS of Rs. 8.00 per kilo was imposed from 2017 budget on imported coiled iron, sending all other importers excepting Lokuwithana, into crisis. Incidentally, the day the tax was imposed, on 16 November 2016, a ship arrived at Colombo port with 20,000 tons of the coiled iron for the Corporation. The loss of tax revenue for the state from the consignment was Rs. 160 million.
After other importers objected, the CESS was replaced with a custom duty, which too, was not made applicable for Lokuwithana with a claim his Corporation was coming under strategic development projects. This has allowed him to enjoy a monopoly, but disaster for others, including 40,000 direct and indirect employees in the sector who are in danger of losing their jobs.
Despite a meeting between the finance secretary and the affected importers December 12, the tax remained in force. After representations were made to the president, he has ordered the removal of the custody duty. However, this order has reportedly been made effective until 31 December last year only, while the director general of the trade investment policy department has recommended that the concession be given on a case-by-case basis.
Accordingly, pursuant to a request on acting finance minister at the time and finance state minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, only two leading importers are to be given the concession.
Meanwhile, the finance minister did not invite his state minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena to its New Year Kiribth treat yesterday. Abeywardena was to have his Kiribath treat at his ministry today. Karunanayake might not have invited me for his party, but I would invite him for mine, he said.
Given below is the Sathhanda article that angered the minister:
‘Yahapaalana’ too, give preferential treatment to Nandana Lokuwithana
A decision has been taken by president Maithripala Sirisena to withdraw the unreasonable taxes imposed by ‘Yahapaalana’ government on all steel importers, excepting Ceylon Steel Corporation Ltd (Lankawa – Steel Corporation). Chairman of the Corporation is Nandana Jayadeva Lokuwithana, accused of frontman for Rajapaksas in various businesses.
There was speculation that the true owner of the institution was Basil Rajapaksa. Lokuwithana bought Dubai Marriot Hotel during the previous regime. It is highly suspicious that the finance ministry has given tax concessions to a person facing such disreputable accusations.
A CESS of Rs. 8.00 per kilo was imposed from 2017 budget on imported coiled iron, sending all other importers excepting Lokuwithana, into crisis. Incidentally, the day the tax was imposed, on 16 November 2016, a ship arrived at Colombo port with 20,000 tons of the coiled iron for the Corporation. The loss of tax revenue for the state from the consignment was Rs. 160 million.
After other importers objected, the CESS was replaced with a custom duty, which too, was not made applicable for Lokuwithana with a claim his Corporation was coming under strategic development projects. This has allowed him to enjoy a monopoly, but disaster for others, including 40,000 direct and indirect employees in the sector who are in danger of losing their jobs.
Despite a meeting between the finance secretary and the affected importers December 12, the tax remained in force. After representations were made to the president, he has ordered the removal of the custody duty. However, this order has reportedly been made effective until 31 December last year only, while the director general of the trade investment policy department has recommended that the concession be given on a case-by-case basis.
Accordingly, pursuant to a request on acting finance minister at the time and finance state minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, only two leading importers are to be given the concession.
