Nagananda Kodituwakku
Dishonest SLFP and UNP MPs have already conceded that they have abused government tax revenue under the guise of tax-free permits. The State Minister of Finance recently said that he has been doing it for a long time whilst Bandula Gunawardane, MP declared that there is nothing new about cash-trapped MPs selling their car permits. MP Udaya Gammanpila was also caught red handed after the vehicle imported on his permit registered by a private company.
The JPV MPs on other hand talk about integrity and morality in politics claiming that they are committed to preserve and protect the public property and to combat corruption. They make always make noise in the parliament about the waste and corruption in the government business.
Now evidence in the public domain reveals that all JVP MPs are trapped in the Finance Minister, Ravi Karunanayake’s tax-free car permits and Rs 100,000/- bonanza offered to lure MPs to please them and to keep them under control.
Colombo Telegraph already revealed that all JVP MPs, includling Anura Kumara Dissanayake, have made use of the tax-free MP permits offered by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake to import 6 Toyota Hilux vehicles, which they have imported and cleared out of Customs on the same date.
Sole Authority in Control of Finance
It is deemed that the Head of the COPE Sunil Handunneththi and other JVP MPs are aware about the Parliament’s authority in the Public Finance as sets out in the Constitution, which states that no tax or levy can be charged or any levy already imposed on any commodity can be exempted except upon the authority of a law enacted by the Parliament.
Issuance of tax-free car permits
However, it is observed that all tax-free car permits for MPs have been issued in February and March 2016 with no legal sanction whatsoever, authorizing the exemption of statutory levies chargeable on the vehicles. For instance all 6 permits issued to JVP MPs have been issued in February/March 2016.
This was a deliberate ploy on the part of the government and it never expected any one to question the legitimacy of the issuance of permits.
After this issue was raised for the first time, the Finance Minister issued a gazette notification on 02nd May 2016, legitimizing of the issuance of tax-free car permits, which was done under the provisions of Excise (Special Provisions) Act No 13 of 1989. However, by then all permits have been issued in February/March 2016, which were invalid for want of legitimacy.
Investigation conducted into the gross abuse of public funds through these permits have revealed that already 38 private individuals have imported and registered expensive vehicles on these invalid permits in the names of several Ministers and MPs. It was also revealed that more than 100 vehicles have been imported on these permits and a large number of such vehicles are been used by their new owners in the name of the permit holder MPs, without effecting the transfer, which is also prohibited and amounts to a punishable offence under Section 12 of the Motor Traffic Act.
The law requires the new keeper/owner to apply within fourteen days after change of possession to be registered, as the new owner shall be guilty of a criminal offence with power conferred on police to detain such vehicles use on a road.
A clear case of betrayal of people’s sovereign rights by the MPs and Ministers
Further to in-depth investigation into this day light robbery it was duly reported to the Corruption Commission with overwhelming evidence of the abuse of public funds for unjust enrichment by the corrupt MPs and Cabinet of Ministers in the 8th Parliament. Under the law the Corruption Commission is required to carry out an independent and credible investigation into this complaint, which however never occurred, compelling the Corruption Commission to be charged before the Supreme Court for condoning Corruption.
Further to the filling of this writ application (SC/Writs/07/2016) Notices have been issued on the Corruption Commission and on three Commissioners and the matter is now fixed for hearing on 16th March 2017.
In this case it is requested from the Court to direct the Corruption Commission to initiate action to recover all tax revenue defrauded by all dishonest MPs and to charge them for abuse of office for corruption under Section 70 of the Bribery Act, which specifies 10 years jail term for corruption.
chiv / February 27, 2017
Though this comment does not fit this article, I want to voice my opinion on hypocrisy of our good old politicians, people who claimed to be patriotic receive all there medical srvices ( even for trivial issues) in foreign land/ Singapore at tax payers expense, but who are so called un patriotic go to SL governtment hospitals for life threatening issues, See the list MR, Duminda all other clan members, family and extended family members of MR and recent visit by none other than current defence secy, where as CV went to general hospital, Is this called hypocrazy or mistrust in our nations health services managed by so called ethical doctors ????
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Amarasiri / February 28, 2017
Nagananda Kodituwakku
RE: Car Permits Abuse: JVP Lawmakers Cannot Plead For Ignorance Of Law
1. “Dishonest SLFP and UNP MPs have already conceded that they have abused government tax revenue under the guise of tax-free permits.”
2. “The JPV MPs on other hand talk about integrity and morality in politics claiming that they are committed to preserve and protect the public property and to combat corruption.”
3. “Now evidence in the public domain reveals that all JVP MPs are trapped in the Finance Minister, Ravi Karunanayake’s tax-free car permits and Rs 100,000/- bonanza offered to lure MPs to please them and to keep them under control.”
4. “This was a deliberate ploy on the part of the government and it never expected any one to question the legitimacy of the issuance of permits.”
5. “Further to in-depth investigation into this day light robbery it was duly reported to the Corruption Commission with overwhelming evidence of the abuse of public funds for unjust enrichment by the corrupt MPs and Cabinet of Ministers in the 8th Parliament.”
Thanks for exposing the Robbers, the Horuooo.
1, 2, 3., 4, 5 Okkoma Horuoooo! and Money Talks.
“under Section 70 of the Bribery Act, which specifies 10 years jail term for corruption.”
Oh, Oh, Oh, that will be great, but will not happen.
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Amarasiri / February 28, 2017
Nagananda Kodituwakku
RE: Car Permits Abuse: JVP Lawmakers Cannot Plead For Ignorance Of Law
Thanks foe exposing and You are not alone with the same opinion,
Given below is the opinion of the Native Veddah Aethho, to whom the Land belongs, that was stolen by the Paras.
SRI LANKA,vadda people
Published on May 13, 2014
Veddas ( වැද්දා ) are an indigenous people of Sri Lanka, an island in the Indian Ocean. They, amongst other self-identified native communities such as Coast Veddas and Anuradhapura Veddas, are accorded indigenous status.
Some lies and imaginations of Mahawamsa exposed by modern genetics.
Mitochondrial DNA history of Sri Lankan ethnic people:
http://www.nature.com/jhg/journal/v59/n1/full/jhg2013112a.html
Through a comparison with the mtDNA HVS-1 and part of HVS-2 of Indian database, both Tamils and Sinhalese clusters were affiliated with Indian subcontinent populations than Vedda people who are believed to be the native population of the island of Sri Lanka.
According to the genesis chronicle of the majority Sinhala people, the Mahavansha (“Great Chronicle”), written in the 5th century CE, the Pulindas believed to refer to Veddas are descended from Prince Vijaya (6th–5th century BCE), the founding father of the Sinhalese nation, through Kuveni, a woman of the indigenous Yakkha he married. The Mahavansa relates that following the repudiation of Kuveni by Vijaya, in favour of a Kshatriya-caste princess from Pandya, their two children, a boy and a girl, departed to the region of Sumanakuta (Adam’s Peak in the Ratnapura District), where they multiplied, giving rise to the Veddas. Anthropologists such as the Seligmanns (The Veddhas 1911) believed the Veddas to be identical with the Yakkha.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdSK0lz_NV8
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nosey parker / February 27, 2017
Mr.Kodituwakku
Why are you going after small fry ? There is a ruling party politico living down Sri Maha Vihara Mawatha , Pamanakade who is the “voice of the tamil speaking people” in Colombo . Prior to 2015 he had a Toyota Coroilla and a double cab . Today , he has acquired a block of land adjoining his house and built a massive garage which houses at least 10 vehicles , mostly Prado’s , Montero’s , and a couple of double cabs . All paid for by the impoverished people he is supposed to represent .
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Amarasiri / February 28, 2017
nosey parker
“Why are you going after small fry ?”
Small fry becomes becomes big fry. Get rid of all the small fry, and get a few large fry that can be caught, and the fry menace may, one day, do away,
This also puts pressure on the large fry as well At least it will increase their blood pressure, and hopefully they will die off., because Yahapalanauya . “Good Governance” will not punish them,
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Plato. / February 27, 2017
Practically every day there is a Protest march,demonstrations,satyagrahas etc etc in Colombo. If there can be a similar demonstration on the issue of MPP abusing the car-permit,this could be fruitful. Nagananda is the sole crusader.We need to strengthen his cause. After all it is the Tax payers money that goes to fund the unethical duty-free fiasco!
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Annesley Dias / February 27, 2017
Nagananda for President 2021 cheers!!
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Hamlet / February 27, 2017
“… MP declared that there is nothing new about cash-trapped MPs selling their car permits…”
Why should Members of Parliament, be given Duty Free car permits? Why is their job considered more important than, say a Teacher or a Doctor, who do not get the same Benefits?
Isn’t it a Case of ‘Hodhi Bedhagannava’, by the people who make these Laws?
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banda / February 27, 2017
why every one of this country do not force government to enforce tax la rigidly . equally to net every person who drawing more than Rs 600000/= per annum are liable to income tax payable. . This government does not want to enforce tax law properly as the government want to save corrupt politicians , government officers and businessmen who supports politicians and senior government officers. The tax law is becoming weaker to weaker after 1977 regimes which came to power. Laws are promulgating to avoid tax payments instead of establishing transparent system to account individual income perfectly.
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banda / February 27, 2017
why every one of this country do not force government to enforce tax law rigidly, equally to net every person who drawing more than Rs 600000/= per annum to be paid tax . This government does not want to enforce tax law properly as the government want to save corrupt politicians , government officers and businessmen who supports politicians and senior government officers. The tax law is becoming weaker to weaker after 1977 regimes which came to power. Laws are promulgating to avoid tax payments by corrupt politicians and rouge government officers. Establishment of transparent system to account individual income is the responsibility of the entire citizens but it is pity to note that the majority of corrupt politicians, senior government servants, professionals and corrupt businessmen are the prime tax dodges of this country..
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Raj / February 27, 2017
If I am not mistaken, it was JR who introduced duty free car permits for MPs, then the powerful GMOA demanded same for doctors. The Govt. gave in & issued duty concessionary permits & subsequently the same privilege was extended to practically all Govt. employees. OK, so perks & privileges are used as a motivational tool in the private sector but in this case, it has become a standard practice, turning a blind eye to promoting an unfair advantage to make easy money. Therefore, a fairer society, as hyped by ‘Yahapalnaya’ is total hypocrisy.
I don’t think I am wrong in saying that all who received such permits, past & present, profited at some stage when the vehicles in question were sold as they had an unfair advantage. It was a common practice to sell these vehicle on ‘open papers’ or even the permit in the days gone by but MR made it legal by allowing the transfer of ownership at any stage by the payment of a nominal transfer fee. Thereafter, permits were advertised openly & even some of the franchised car dealerships were quoting new car prices with the purchase price of the permit included & if I am not mistaken, the bulk of the vehicles imported in recent years have all been on such permits. Obviously the loss of revenue had to be recouped by further increasing the duty & the average public who are without a permit could only afford a badly built & very often a cloned or discontinued model built in Asia while the privileged were able to profit immensely, particularly, the politicians, with their enhanced value permits & high value branded vehicles.
Unfortunately, we in SL accepted these practices as ‘normal’ & it took a brave man like Nagananda to stand up against this ‘license to print money’. Therefore, my utmost respect for Nagananda & I hope he will continue this fight even though it may seem an impossible task to abolish all form of concessionary duty permits & in it’s place, a fair, affordable duty system established. Today, with the exponential improvements in technology, vehicles are more efficient, pollute less, reliable & safe but only the privileged few are able to enjoy the ownership of such a new car. The bottom line is, SL has an aging population of old cars which pollute the air more & the country needs to import more fuel (as these vehicles are less economical), as well as, spare parts & accept the fact that these cars will literally crumble at an impact due to age or poor build quality, yet, a selected few are given the privilege to profit enormously by unfair means, legally.
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Prabath / February 27, 2017
Nonsey parker,
This is not a matter that you think unimportant.
This is a very important important case that shows character and demeanor of politicians belongs to all political parties (UNP, SLFP, Rajapakse Group, TNA and JVP) in this country, who openly abuse sovereign rights of the people to rob the wealth of the Nation.
It is the duty of every concerned citizen who want to see reinstalling democracy in Sri Lanka, to extend our fullest support those selfless sons of mother Lanka, who bring this kind of litigation in the public interest.
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jim softy / February 27, 2017
I don’t think Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil wickramasinghe are different from the Rajapakse govt.
Now, Maithri has become a Preacher and he has not produced any results. Ranil wickramsinghe is still in the Damage contgrol mode. Even if a private business open a few jobs, Propagandaa machine says it is Ranil’s !0 million jobs scheme.
EVen before the election, Everybody was accusing JRJ’s constitution for all the illnesses that Sri lanka has. Now, even the Central bond scam is Mahinda Rajapakse’s fault.
Only thing Ranil, Malik Samrawickma and his hand-pciked professional did was just like three blind mice, followed the mahinda rajapske’s gazette. In other words, Mahinda Rajapakse was corrupt and these three or four people just followed it blindely.
JVP like people should be hanged as they got killed thousands of youth and now they have become the capitalist businessmen. those days, they cooked meat from those who helped the so-called capitalists. NOw they are living within the system.
what we need educating voters, and that time they may get into violence.
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Mr. Nobel / February 28, 2017
JVP MPs are nick-named red baby elephants! They have been suspected of aiding the UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe with an hidden agenda to topple the Rajapaksas out of political jealousy. They have been acting, speaking, and behaving exactly like Red baby elephants! These babies are elephants but red in color! They are mischievous and hilarious; attack their parents too but softly and carefully not to harm them.
I don’t know who coined this three words but the inventor should be given the first price for the best creative writing in political literature!
Thank you Naga for keeping the file open!
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maalumiris / February 28, 2017
Solution is simple – but since the profit motive will be removed, it will never be done
All duty free to be abolished
Instead, Government Stores to be the recipient of all vehicles for public use. Whether they are brought Duty-Free or Not is up to the government
Public Servants, Ministers and other Leeches and Vermin can rent or lease from the Government Stores – vehicle to be returned at the end of the period
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Native Vedda / March 1, 2017
maalumiris
“vehicle to be returned at the end of the period”
Please be serious.
Alternatively, government should consider introducing payment based on motor mileages used wholly and exclusively for the purpose of official businesses. MPs, Ministers, state functionalities, should not be provided with state owned motor vehicles but paid allowances based on official mileages.
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maalumiris / March 1, 2017
Native Vedda
“government should consider introducing payment based on motor mileages used wholly and exclusively for the purpose of official businesses“
What about the wife and kiddies ? Trips to the market and all that ? You are not proposing our poor politicians go without, I hope ?
Perhaps an amalgam of a lease payment per vehicle to the government AND a mileage surcharge plus a reasonable limit on the number of cars one can check out at any one time. Say 2 or 3.
Personally I think they’d be happy to return the “old” vehicle if it meant they could get a new one.
At least the public coffers will stand to benefit in some way.
After sometime, government stores used to auction off the older vehicles to the public.
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jim softy / March 1, 2017
Mr. Nagananda Kodituwakku
You need to understand that even Lord buddha did not preach to people who are hungy. JVP is like that they are hungry for money. Eventhough they preach communist ideology, in the Capitalist wolrd, they need money to exist. So they cheat even the same people that they want to save. Some where, I heard JVP borrowed money from UNP. So, JVP is obliged to UNP..
It is acknowledged by law-makers that they established the rule for themselves becuse they need money to do elections. It is legislated corruption and legal thefts from publuic. Public did not give it.
But law makers themselves served it for them.
The solution is to push an established method for collecting finances for politiciking. right, President goes with the block votes from the party plus his own popularity. SLFP and UNP goes mostly with the party popularity and the party ;eaders.
Therefore, only the party should be allowed to collect funds and not the individual members. This way, either the president or the prime minister can get rid of corrupt or incompetant MPs from the parliament
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