The Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, first, it is our duty at this moment to remember the war heroes and the disabled war heroes who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of our country. That is not to disrespect anyone. It is, however, very unfortunate that today the President, the Prime Minister and this Government seem to have an issue with the very term “Ranaviru” (war hero). Even using the word “Ranaviru” in a Facebook post appears to create a problem. That is extremely regrettable. Our war heroes did not fight against the Tamil people. The LTTE terrorists were a group that caused immense harm to the Tamil people as well. We also pay our respects to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his team for providing the political leadership to defeat LTTE terrorism, as well as to Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and the tri-forces leadership who led the effort to victory. There is no issue with paying that respect.

¶ 02 I must also say this: although we disagree with Hon. Wimal Weerawansa’s politics, it is not right to make an issue out of his, or anyone’s, placing a floral tribute at a war memorial. I express my regret regarding that incident, too.

¶ 03 We are debating the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill. We must understand the main issue targeted here. Previously, the law treated as serious offences things like intentional tax evasion, fraudulent accounting, submitting forged documents and concealing income — rightly so. Those are serious frauds and must be criminal offences. However, ordinary administrative lapses happen: an individual or an institution paying 18% could still make clerical or technical errors. In such cases, corrections are made. Under this new law, however, failures such as non-registration, delays, and technical deficiencies are turned into criminal offences. That is a problem.

¶ 04 Government Members try to say the Opposition is speaking this way to protect thieves and fraudsters. We are not saying that at all. Go catch the thieves — no doubt about it. You said money was in Uganda, money in Dubai, lands here and there; two years have passed and still the people have not seen that recovered for the country. So please, catch the thieves — we have no doubt about that.

¶ 05 There are large amounts of taxes assessed but not yet collected — from large companies and groups. One law for them and another for others — that is what exists. Yet the President says everyone is equal before the law. If so, show it by enforcing the law equally. For example, the illegal occupation of the bungalow at Malchané by a group of JVP-affiliated students has been going on for days; the law is not being enforced against them. If it was the SJB or any other Opposition group, would you treat them the same way? If the law is equal, enforce it there too.

¶ 06 We say clearly: enforce the law against those involved in the coal scam. If ordinary people can be criminalized for small lapses in paying taxes, what has been done against those linked to that massive coal-related fraud?

¶ 07 Furthermore, USD 2.5 million went missing from the Treasury/Ministry of Finance from tax collections. If the law applies equally, what has been done against those responsible? What action against the Secretary to the Ministry? The President himself is the Minister in charge. No one is held accountable; the law is not enforced against them.

¶ 08 At the same time, there is a serious problem of public finance management: People’s Bank, SriLankan Airlines, the Treasury — all face shortages; similarly at the Paddy Marketing Board, RDA, etc. In such a context, no law is applied equally to Ministers and those close to the Government. Therefore, we warn: do not use criminal law to suppress the Opposition or groups opposed to the Government. We express our displeasure at amending this law in a way that opens the door to such abuse. With that, I conclude.

¶ 09 Thank you.