Sugath Kulatunga

It is good to hear that the courts have recognized the right of information on the names of members of Parliament who have declared their assets. Some time back before the Right of Information law was introduced, the civil society organization CIMOGG made a similar request to the then Speaker who did not even acknowledge the receipt of the request. It is urged that this admirable precedent is extended to the payment of income tax as well.

If the names of taxpayers (who have tax files) of each electorate or Division is made available on a website, citizens can give information on tax evaders. As only the taxpayers’ names are to be displayed there should be no objection to this measure by current taxpayers. In fact, the expansion of the tax base could result in the reduction of taxes.

Secrecy in the payment of taxes is not tenable as taxpayers earn their money from citizens and most times by exploitation. When direct taxes are not collected the citizens are penalized with indirect taxes even on what they eat.

PS

Judging from the crowds demonstrating against tax proposals, one is encouraged to see that we have so many lakshapathiyas. We are not a poor nation.