The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) of Sri Lanka has introduced a significant financial relief initiative designed to support the well-being of senior citizens aged 60 and above. In a statement, the department underlined the purpose of the program, which is to provide financial assistance to the state’s senior citizens.
Key highlights of the program include:
Eligibility: All senior citizens aged 60 or above, with an annual income not exceeding Rs. 1,200,000 (for the period from April 1st to March 31st of the following year), and who have had Advance Income Tax (AIT) deducted from their interest income at a rate of 5% by banks or financial institutions, are eligible to apply for the refund.
Refund Limits: Senior citizens can claim a maximum refund of up to Rs. 25,000 per quarter. This provision ensures that eligible individuals can benefit from this initiative throughout the year, covering the period from April 1st, 2023, to March 31st, 2024.
Mode of Refund: The refund amount will be directly deposited into the designated bank account of the senior citizen, ensuring a secure and efficient delivery.
Application Process: Interested individuals can apply for the refund by completing simple application forms available on the IRD’s website (www.ird.gov.lk) or by visiting the nearest metropolitan or regional office.
Documentation: Applicants will need to provide supporting documentation, including copies of their identification, proof of age, bank statements reflecting interest income, and documents confirming the Advance Income Tax deductions.
Review and Processing: After the application is submitted, the IRD will review the documents and verify the eligibility criteria.
Assistance: The IRD is dedicated to providing guidance and assistance throughout the application process, with customer support teams available at metropolitan and regional offices to offer support as needed.
For more detailed information about the Senior Citizens’ Advance Income Tax Refund Program, individuals can visit www.ird.gov.lk or contact the IRD’s Call Center by dialing 1944. This initiative aims to provide much-needed financial relief and support to senior citizens in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved a groundbreaking initiative to grant visa-free entry to visitors from seven countries, including India, China, and Russia, as a pilot project extending until March 31, 2024. This significant move aims to promote tourism and enhance the country’s appeal to international travelers, as declared by Tourism Minister Harin Fernando.
In a tweet, Minister Fernando confirmed that the Cabinet has sanctioned visa-free entry for visitors from India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand, effective immediately.
This decision follows the Ministry of Tourism’s previous announcement that a cabinet paper had been presented in a recent Cabinet meeting proposing free tourist visas for foreigners from five countries visiting Sri Lanka. Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Tourism and Lands Minister Harin Fernando, Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry jointly presented the cabinet paper.
The primary objective of this visa exemption for tourists from several nations is to attract a greater number of visitors to Sri Lanka, with the aspiration of reaching five million tourist arrivals in the coming years, as articulated by the Tourism Ministry. This initiative aligns with China’s announcement of Sri Lanka as one of the 20 countries open to Chinese tourists for travel.
By eliminating the need for visas, this program is anticipated to save travelers time and money while promoting a surge in foreign tourists visiting Sri Lanka. Additionally, the Ministry plans to introduce an e-ticketing system for most of the country’s tourist sites in the near future, streamlining the visitor experience and further enhancing the nation’s allure as a travel destination.
Informed sources say President Ranil Wickramasinghe has warned that he will dissolve Parliament & hold a General election if the Govt does not receive the support of the “Pohottuwa” to continue: also says he will not allow peoples’ money to be wasted by increasing the number of ministers at a time when the people are in dire straits.
Lord Hugo Swire of UK’s Conservative Party says countries like China have got opportunities to provide financial aid to countries like Sri Lanka, because of UK cutting its foreign aid budget: also says the Chinese cannot be blamed because they are ready to spend money when the UK is not.
Export Development Board says SL’s merchandise exports have plunged by 11.88% to USD 951mn in September’23 compared to September’22: it is also a 14.94% decrease when compared to the value in August’23.
Cabinet approves visa-free entry to travellers from 7 key tourist-generating markets of India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, & Thailand with immediate effect: this policy to be in effect till 31 March’24.
State Minister for Primary Industries Chamara Dasanayake says about 1 mn barrels of ethanol is piled up as Alcohol firms are not buying ethanol: also says this has led to state-run Pelwatte & Sevenagala sugar firms to bury ethanol: laments the cost of production of a bottle of arrack is Rs.1,200, but has to be sold at Rs.3,200 due to the exorbitant taxes: insists economic experts are advocating high taxes and people are driven to “moonshine” (kasippu) as a result.
Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security recommends that US Ambassador Julie Chung be urged to refrain from making statements regarding the internal affairs of SL in the future: Chairman Rear Admiral Weerasekera questions the Ambassador’s understanding of whether actions such as burning tires, blocking highways & railway lines, destroying petrol stations, slashing tires of oil bowsers, & throwing stones at the Police constitute a “protest or peaceful acts”: asserts the Ambassador is sending a highly unfavorable message about SL to the rest of the world.
Minister Jeevan Thondaman says there are no plans to further increase the water tariff after the increase in August’23: but says the Ministry is now “working on implementing a water tariff formula set to roll out in Jan 2024”.
Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board to complete the compensation payments for crop damages during the Yala cultivation season by early next month.
Pradeep Somasiri wins the Gold medal in the Men’s 1500 metres – (T-46) event with a new Games record, and Nuwan Indika wins the Gold medal in the Men’s 100 metres – (T44) event at the Asian Para Games 2023.
Angelo Mathews will replace injured Matheesha Pathirana in the SL squad at the ICC World Cup – 2023 being played in India.
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the disturbing occurrences of suspects dying while in police custody. According to Commissioner Attorney Nimal Punchihewa, there have been more than 20 reported instances of such incidents in the recent past, prompting urgent action.
As a response to this concerning trend, the Commission has decided to develop a set of specialized instructions to guide the proper handling of suspects in custody. These instructions aim to ensure that individuals in police custody are treated with the utmost respect for their rights and well-being, while preventing any harm or loss of life. The Commission’s commitment to upholding human rights and safeguarding the dignity of all individuals remains at the forefront of this crucial initiative.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the most provinces of the island after 01.00 p.m.
Fairly heavy showers about 50 mm are likely at some places in Sabaragamuwa province and in Galle and Matara districts.
Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces during the morning.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Colombo (LNW): Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development, Jeevan Thondaman, emphasised that there are no plans to increase the water tariffs. Instead, the ministry is diligently working on implementing a water tariff formula, set to roll out in January, 2024, the Minister noted, according to a statement by the President’s Media Centre.
He assured the public that following the water tariff hike in August 2023, there will be no further increases.
The focus is now on developing a cost recovery formula, a collaborative effort with the Water Board, and Asian Development Bank (ADB) project, an integral part of a policy-based sub-programme .
This sub-programme aims to contribute US $ 100 million to the centralised budget upon completion.
Minister Thondaman addressing the News Briefing at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) today (24) under the theme ‘Collective path to a stable country’ clarified the government’s stance on water tariffs and announced initiatives to support the Upcountry community.
Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) indicates further depreciation against the US Dollar, as per the official exchange rates list issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) today (24).
Accordingly, the buying price of the US Dollar has increased to 320.81 from yesterday’s Rs. 320.32, and the selling price to Rs. 331.39 from Rs. 331.00.
Colombo (LNW): The US Department of Defence’s recent annual report to Congress indicates China’s potential interest in incorporating Sri Lanka into its international military logistics network.
Titled “Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China,” the report mentions that China may be looking at 18 countries, including Sri Lanka, for setting up People’s Liberation Army’s logistical facilities.
The intention behind this is to expand China’s capability to project its military power over greater distances.
Such an expanded global military logistics network could potentially hinder U.S. military operations.
The report also highlights China’s potential plans beyond its support base in Djibouti and cites a 2022 confirmation of the PLA’s access to parts of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base.
Under colonialism, Sri Lanka’s policing and judicial system was developed to safeguard colonial privileges and interests. Since independence, this skewed system has continued with minimal changes, but with additional protections provided through enacting new legislation and otherwise, reinforcing the privileges and interests of the ruling elites. The need of the hour is to amend and democratise various Police Acts and Emergency Powers, and anti-terror legislation in the country so as to make those who implement such legislation more accountable and transparent. Nevertheless, the intrinsic nature of the devolution dialogue is that those opposed to devolution continue to remain silent on such aspects of the matter.
One argument raised against devolving police powers to provincial councils is that while a Cabinet Minister is in charge of the central police force [EconomyNext 3 August 2023, Sri Lanka parliament must discuss implications of devolving police powers: FM; availalble at: https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-parliament-must-discuss-implications-of-devolving-police-powers-fm-127300/] police units in each province being controlled by different chief ministers, are more likely to become politicised. Another reason cited is that if police powers are devolved the national security of the country would be compromised. In fact, the politicization of police started in the 1950s, i.e., three decades prior to the establishment of provincial councils, with the Bandaranaike regime employing police units for violently suppressing the democratic right to peaceful protest – particularly during the ‘satyagraha’ campaigns led by several Tamil leaders. This political, ethnic, and religious manipulation of the police force has now expanded to massive proportions.
The Department of Police became an object of ridicule a long time ago due to its attitude of pleasing the political masters of the day and their goons. Rather than performing their professional duties, the police officers are compelled to yield to the demands made by the political goons and thugs who give illegitimate instructions to carry out. If the officers resist the wishes of the politicians or the actions of their goons, then they will be penalized for doing their duty. When the National Police Commission was functioning, this situation became slightly better. But when the politicians realised that the Commission and its members were not yielding to their requests for transfers etc, the politicians came forward to change the constitution itself!
This is evidenced by the way the political elite and bureaucrats have employed police units and other security forces to fulfill their whims and day-to-day needs. Sri Lanka has been exposed to this type of politicisation from the days of Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and now under President Ranil Wickremesinghe. This was particularly visible when the Rajapaksa-cum-Wickremesinghe regime used violence against the island wide Aragalaya campaigns last year to hound some of the protest leaders and lock them under harsh conditions for longer terms utilizing political and judicial manipulations. Hence, saying that the police force will become politicised if it is decentralised to the nine provinces is a moot point.
Police powers remained centralised throughout the last 75 years of post-independence, during which the Police have supposedly been maintaining public order. However, it was mainly due to political and religious interference in maintaining public order, particularly in the north and east, and also in other areas where diverse non-majoritarian communities are resident, the situation became much more than problematic. This situation led to many conflicts and a war both in the south and the north of the country. Last year there was a news item reporting that police transfers, particularly higher-level officers, are made to electorates in response to requests made by the political authorities of those electorates.
If devolution of police powers is unacceptable because of the potential for political interference in maintaining public order, how do we address safety and security concerns in areas inhabited by non-majoritarian communities? To make the system better, the way police appointments and transfers are made, and complaints made against the police are dealt with, needs to change. Such changes can be implemented through panels of independent personnel who possess wide experience and knowledge in law, management, human relations, social services, etc. And the independent personnel could be drawn from the judiciary and experts of law, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the land. The independent Police Commission needs to be truly independent and impartial! The establishment of a separate impartial and non-partisan authority to handle complaints against police is also necessary.
Notably, it was only last week that President Ranil Wickremesinghe disregarded a recommendation made by the Constitutional Council with regard to the third service extension [The morning 20 October 2023, Prez appointing IGP despite CC veto: Oppo. wants CC to seek AG’s advice on its powers, https://www.themorning.lk/articles/u1ug8bcrCeRX5aJslnRM] provided to the Inspector General of Police. These types of incidents highlight the need for establishing a separate independent and non-partisan authority to handle complaints against police.
An independent non-partisan National Security Authority (NSA) to handle appointments of top security brass including those of the police can strengthen this process. It should have responsibility and accountability to supervise investigative functions, including providing facilities for crime investigation. However, it should not have the power to interfere in cases that are under investigation. The NSA could also be authorised to be an appellate authority to record and handle complaints about illegal or irregular orders or political meddling. This could be done by any of the higher bodies subject to public scrutiny and will allow better accountability.
For community participation in policing, police administration needs to be more transparent, accountable, and participatory. This has never been the case in Sri Lanka. Since the 1950s, the situation has worsened. Police harassing and intimidating the Tamil-speaking civilians continues to this day. The precarious way of bending laws by the police and the judicial system to suit the whims and fancies of politicians and other authorities endures. The lack of sufficient staff to record and deal with complaints made by Tamil civilians in majority Tamil speaking areas remains a major obstacle for improving community relations and reconciliation.
Since the mid-fifties, the escalation of state-led pogroms, violence, and terror by thugs and security forces witnessed an increased police involvement in harassing and intimidating Tamil civilians. Prior to the Tamil militants launching terror attacks against the Sinhalese and other civilians in the south, there had been many instances in which Tamil civilians were slaughtered. The instances of brutality with which the police and security forces behaved against the Sinhalese in the south had been too many. There were occasions when entire villages, including the elderly and children, were wiped out without any impunity. How could one expect such a security force to behave in a more disciplined way against the non-majority communities?
It is in this context that the devolution of police powers needs to be looked at.
Land powers
The 13th Amendment has land powers on its concurrent list. However, the centre has a dominant role over land through powers vested in the centre when dealing with national policies and urban development. The centre also managed the process of releasing crown land. Any land release requires the President’s approval upon request made by the relevant provincial council. Such alienation is also subject to several other special provisions relating to irrigation and development matters.
Provinces are further disadvantaged because the constitutional provisions stipulate a National Land Commission as the sole authority in formulating the National Land Policy. Those against devolving land powers to provincial councils argue that despite the prevailing understanding of it as a devolved subject, the Supreme Court has ruled otherwise. It has determined that “State Land shall continue to vest in the Republic”. The court’s interpretation was that a provincial council can utilize “State Land” only upon the centre making it available to the provincial council. This implies that a provincial council cannot appropriate state land unless the centre has made that land available to the council for its use.
Recently, President Wickremasinghe stated a National Land Commission will be appointed. Developing a National Land Policy is complicated as some advocate land should be vested in the provincial councils. However, some others argue that land must be allocated only for agricultural cultivation and business use. Sri Lanka can gain from the experiences of models used globally in this regard, for example in India, Canada and Australia. India’s land powers are fully devolved to the periphery. Every Indian state has legislation in dealing with their land matters.
Colombo (LNW): The Cabinet has given the green light to forge relevant agreements linked to the upcoming “Enterprise Growth Finance Initiative” for small and medium businesses.
Originally, the “Enterprise Credit Strategy Initiative” was launched, supported by a $165 million fund from the Asian Development Bank.
This initiative aimed to offer both investment and working capital loans to small and medium businesses at preferential interest rates.
Given that many banks focus more on secured lending rather than lending based on cash flow, this has posed challenges for SME owners.
In response, the government initiated the National Credit Protection Institute.
However, recognising the continued financing struggles of entrepreneurs, the government is now rolling out the “Enterprise Growth Finance Initiative”.
For this initiative, the Asian Development Bank has pledged financial backing worth $100 million.
Consequently, based on the recommendation by the President, who also holds the Finance Minister portfolio, the Cabinet has endorsed the motion to procure this loan and formulate the necessary agreements.
