Officials from the Inland Revenue Department have emphasized the significance of adhering to the existing Inland Revenue Law, which mandates the submission of annual income reports for the assessment year 2022/2023 by November 30th, covering the period from April 1st, 2022 to March 31st, 2023. Failure to meet this deadline will result in penalties, with a fine of 50,000 rupees and an additional 5% of the tax payable for individuals maintaining tax files without submitting the report on time.

These remarks were made during a workshop organized by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Alleviating the Impact of the Economic Crisis, held in Parliament with support from the Inland Revenue Department. Chaired by Hon. Gamini Waleboda, Member of Parliament and Committee Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee, the workshop saw attendance from State Ministers, MPs, and parliamentary officials. Representatives from the Inland Revenue Department, including Senior Commissioner Sujeewa Senadheera, Senior Deputy Commissioner Nandana Kumara, and Senior Deputy Commissioner M.H.D. Meneripitiya, provided detailed briefings.

The workshop aimed to educate attendees about the implications of the current income tax law, specifically highlighting the necessity of income reports and the consequences associated with failing to provide them. Notably, it was disclosed that income tax files have been initiated for all Members of Parliament, with practical guidance provided on completing the income report through the Inland Revenue Department’s website and submitting it online to the department’s system.

Members of Parliament actively engaged with officials during the workshop, seeking clarifications on potential issues that might arise during the report submission process.

Save the Children, in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is set to embark on the second phase of the PALAM/A initiative, injecting a substantial US$32.5 million. This program aims to expand the integrated Food for Education Programme, focusing on enhancing literacy and nutrition for over 200,000 schoolchildren in 917 primary schools and 20,000 preschoolers across eight districts in Sri Lanka.

The project aligns with ongoing efforts to bolster the National School Nutrition Programme in partnership with the Sri Lankan government, emphasizing sustainable strategies for improved learning outcomes.

Beyond alleviating short-term hunger among school-age children, this initiative aims to heighten student attendance, elevate literacy instruction quality, enhance classroom attentiveness, and instill healthy dietary habits. This comprehensive approach seeks to address the educational and nutritional challenges accentuated by Sri Lanka’s economic crisis since 2022, promising a brighter future for the nation’s children.

Save the Children’s earlier PALAM/A Project successfully reached 95,000 children in 852 schools across seven districts, collaborating effectively with Sri Lanka’s key ministries, including Education, Health, and Finance Economic Stabilisation and National Policies. The project not only improved access to nutritious meals but also notably enriched the overall learning environment.

Julian Chellappah, Country Director of Save the Children’s Sri Lanka Country Office, reaffirmed their dedication to Sri Lankan children, emphasizing the commitment to nurturing young learners’ potential.

U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, praised the collaboration, highlighting the total USDA contribution to child nutrition in Sri Lanka reaching US$60 million. She underscored the program’s significance in equipping Sri Lankan children with essential tools for success, emphasizing the robust bond between the United States and Sri Lanka.

Education Minister Dr. Susil Premajayantha emphasized the pivotal role of education in the nation’s progress, acknowledging the joint efforts of the USDA and Save the Children in shaping a promising future for Sri Lankan children.

Micah Olad, Chief of Party for Save the Children’s PALAM/A Project, expressed confidence in the initiative’s ability to drive positive change, building upon past achievements and envisioning a more substantial impact on children’s lives in Sri Lanka.

The ongoing commitment of Save the Children and USDA underscores their dedication to advancing the well-being of Sri Lankan children, with the PALAM/A Project standing as a beacon of hope for a brighter future.

UN Women: “In our society, there is a belief that domestic violence should be kept behind closed doors and not discussed openly”, says Anoja Makawita, a social worker and counsellor at Women in Need (WIN).

“Violence within families has far-reaching consequences, and it is women and girls who suffer the most”, she said. “It is not just an issue within individual households; it has an impact on entire communities.”

Makawita was part of the group that founded WIN in 1987, and the organization has worked ever since to provide survivors of gender-based violence with legal aid, counseling, and even housing support.

One in five Sri Lankan women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner according to a 2019 survey. Nearly half of the women who experienced sexual violence by a partner did not seek formal help due to shame, embarrassment, fear of being blamed or not being believed, or thinking the violence was normal or not serious enough to seek help.

UN Women’s Empowering Women in Crisis project, funded by the government of Japan, has provided relief and support to 11 women’s shelters throughout Sri Lanka, including those run by WIN.

“Helping these women reintegrate into society is however one of the most challenging aspects of our work”, Makawita said, noting that many women who escape domestic violence are unable to return to their old home or afford to rent a new one. WIN works with such women to connect with other organizations and find housing for up to six months, during which time they can seek employment. 

WIN is not the only organization in Sri Lanka devoted to helping survivors of gender-based violence. In the country’s North Central province, the Association for Women with Disabilities, or AKASA, operates as a network of self-help groups dedicated to creating opportunities and empowering women to live with dignity and independence.

The organization’s safe house in the town of Thalawa specializes in helping women and girls with disabilities who have faced abuse.

AKASA Chairperson N.G. Kamalawathie described the case of a 21-year-old woman who suffers from a disability in her spine. She identified her as Lilanthi, a pseudonym, and told how she found peace at AKASA after many years of struggle. 

After being abused by her mother’s husband and his friend as a child, Lilanthi went to the police. Authorities arrested her abusers, and then placed Lilanthi in an orphanage. She was forced to leave that facility at 18, but could not find a stable home—until she finally found AKASA.

“I am so happy to see the women in this house improving day-by-day, working towards a sense of normalcy in life, and we always support them with whatever guidance they need”, Kamalawathie said.

Another organization, the Jaffna Social Action Centre (JSAC), supports women and children in Sri Lanka’s Northern province. Run by Nadarajah Sukirtharaj, JSAC has developed a host of programming for survivors of violence. 

“When we first started JSAC, our community was largely unaware of the significance of safe houses for survivors of violence”, Sukirtharaj said. “To address this, we initiated several awareness programmes and even established women’s groups in villages to spread the word. We have seen a shift in perception since then.”

JSAC has similarly received support through the Empowering Women in Crisis project.

“I must express my deep appreciation for the invaluable support provided by UN Women”, said Sukirtharaj. Founded in 2003, JSAC now operates across eight districts in Sri Lanka.

Makawita, of WIN, echoed Sukirtharaj’s message. 

“Although we provide legal and counseling support, we often need assistance in helping these women find jobs or providing self-employment opportunities”, she said. “I want to express my deep gratitude to UN Women for their invaluable support, especially during times of economic hardship.”

The Agriculture and Plantation Industry Ministry under Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has unveiled ambitious plans to allocate Rs. 400 million towards the planting of 400 hectares of coffee in the upcoming year. President Ranil Wickremesinghe has earmarked this substantial fund to bolster coffee cultivation in 2024, aiming to rekindle the nation’s prominence in the global coffee market.

Minister Amaraweera highlighted the foreign market’s surging demand for coffee, despite its current status not being a primary plantation crop in Sri Lanka. With this in mind, the initiative seeks to reignite and popularize coffee cultivation, offering incentives of one million rupees per hectare. He urged officials to actively support and motivate farmers keen on venturing into coffee cultivation.

The Ministry’s 2024 Budget, outlined in the discussion on fiscal management, has earmarked Rs. 96 billion. Emphasizing efficient utilization of this allocation, Minister Amaraweera stressed the importance of maximizing its impact for the industry’s growth.

Renowned for its diverse coffee varieties including Coffea Arabica (Arabica coffee), Coffea Canephora (Robusta coffee), and Libarica coffee, Sri Lanka boasts a rich heritage in coffee cultivation. The Minister specifically directed the Export Agriculture Department to prioritize the cultivation of Arabica coffee due to its global popularity.

In a bid to enhance productivity, the Ministry introduced high-yielding Arabica coffee varieties like HTD, S09, Katimur, Lakparakum, Lak Saviru, and Lak Komali. Simultaneously, local species of Robusta coffee such as IMY, S274, GCR, CCI, Lanka Chandra, Lanka Bhimsara, and Lanka Isuru have been introduced, aiming to diversify and boost coffee production.

Reports suggest that Senior DIG Deshbandu Tennakoon is slated to be appointed as the Acting Inspector General today (29), just before President Ranil Wickremesinghe departs for the COP 28 conference in the United Arab Emirates. Sources reveal ongoing activities in the President’s Office pertaining to this impending appointment.

However, while the appointment of Tennakoon is anticipated, the formal confirmation as the Inspector General of Police might occur after a three-month interim period. Simultaneously, discussions are underway regarding a proposal aimed at capping the tenure of the IGP to a maximum of three years, a proposal likely to be presented to the cabinet.

This proposed tenure restriction implies that if the appointed IGP does not reach the age of 60 within three years of assuming the position, the stipulation would still apply. Notably, many highly qualified senior Deputy Inspector Generals eligible for the IGP role are currently in their 50s, potentially affected by this proposed tenure limit.

This morning (29), a poignant protest unfolded at the Aluthkade court complex led by the families of missing persons, resonating with the title “Ape Naduwa Asaw”. The demonstration spotlighted the unresolved case of eleven individuals abducted in 2008 by the Navy ransom gang, compelling an investigation into their disappearance.

Among those implicated in this distressing incident, which involved former Navy Commander Wasantha Karnagoda, 14 individuals face charges. The case, initially in the Fort Magistrate’s Court, was referred to a specialized three-member court by the Chief Justice in 2020.

Despite the passage of 15 years since the 2003 incident and the accumulation of 667 charges against the accused, the families expressed frustration over the delay in the three-member court’s examination of the evidence. They highlighted that testimonies from nearly 200 individuals had been solicited, underscoring the magnitude and gravity of the situation.

Photos – Ajith Seneviratne

Sri Lankan Rupee exhibited stability against the US Dollar at various commercial banks, maintaining a similar position to Tuesday’s rates.

At Peoples Bank, the buying and selling rates for the US Dollar held steady at Rs. 323.39 and Rs. 334.66, respectively.

Contrarily, Commercial Bank noted a slight shift, with the buying rate of the US Dollar decreasing from Rs. 322.74 to Rs. 322.22, while the selling rate increased marginally from Rs. 333 to Rs. 333.25.

Meanwhile, Sampath Bank reported unchanged rates for the US Dollar, with both the buying and selling rates holding firm at Rs. 324 and Rs. 334, respectively. Overall, the Sri Lankan Rupee maintained relative stability against the US Dollar across these banking institutions.