Incompetent Wasanthi messes up Inland Revenue Dept!
- Friday, 19 September 2014
Acting commissioner general of the Inland Revenue Department Wasanthi Manchanayake is messing up and taking the administration of the institution from bad to worse, say its trade unions.
Wasanthi was appointed to the position on the strength of her politics following the retirement of her successor. Since her position has not yet been approved by the cabinet, she is functioning on an acting capacity. Wasanthi was appointed to the position by undercutting several of her seniors and signs documents as the commissioner general of inland revenue.
Following our exposure about this with documentary evidence, she now signs documents with her designation as the acting commissioner general.
In an indication of her incompetence, TUs point out several messing ups by Wasanthi.
Through the recent services constitution amendment, tax officers had been promoted as assistant commissioners. Those promotions were granted only to senior tax officers. Following their promotion, they refuse to make valuations, saying that does not come under their duties any more. These duties are now being transferred to management assistants. At present, the department has only a few management assistants.
This staff shortage has severely affected the department’s VAT section, as VAT refunds are piling up. This has severely affected Sri Lankan importers and exporters. As a result of this, Sri Lanka’s imports and exports sector is facing a severe collapse. Wasanthi has no experience to take action to bring calmness to the issue. Wasanthi has no knowledge at all. She gets into further trouble by trying to unravel one particular problem.
At the time she got the position, the revenue difference stood at Rs. 60, but it has been increased to Rs. 69 billion in a matter of several weeks. This is totally due to the inefficiency of the VAT division. If this situation continues in the coming week, there is a risk of a complete collapse of Sri Lanka’s import and export sectors, said the sources.
The Minister of Power and Energy Pavithra Wanniarachchi had to come across a similar situation the Minister of Petroleum Industries Anura Priyadarshana Yapa was faced with recently. Minister Wanniarchchi had told a weekend newspaper last Sunday that electricity tariffs could not be reduced immediately after the second stage of the Norochcholai coal power plant is commissioned.
However, on the 16th an entirely opposite to what the Minister said occurred. The President declaring open the second stage of Norochcholai coal power plant said with the opening of the second stage people could be given relief and announced a reduction of 25% to the electricity bill.
The President’s sudden announcement, despite officials saying no relief could be given in the near future, indicates the reduction of the electricity tariffs has been carried out targeting the Uva PC election. The Minister’s answers to the questions asked by the journalist indicate that the reduction of electricity tariff was to be carried out only before the presidential election.
When the journalist asked what relief would the people get once the second stage of the power plant is declared open on the 16th the Minister says, “I can’t promise to reduce electricity charges immediately after the opening of the second stage. However, relief could be given to consumers in 2015.”
Related news: Fuel prices cannot be reduced haphazardly
