By Shamindra Ferdinando

One-time Parliament Director (Administration) Lacille de Silva yesterday (03) said that MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage’s allegation that Finance Ministry and the House facilitated the sordid operations of tax dodgers had exposed both the government and the Opposition.

The civil society activist noted that MP Aluthgamage has made the disclosure in his capacity as Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Economic and Physical Plans ahead of the suspension of USD 2.9 IMF bailout package over Sri Lanka’s failure to meet revenue targets.

De Silva emphasized that the accusation directed at the Finance Ministry and Parliament was so serious that Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and leaders of political parties couldn’t remain silent. Pointing out that 15 political parties represented the current Parliament, de Silva said that specific accusations should be investigated.

Responding to another query raised by The Island, de Silva explained that the failure on the part of the Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise Departments to meet revenue targets so far this year as alleged by lawmaker Aluthgamage should be examined against the backdrop of a staggering Rs 904 bn in unpaid income taxes alone over the past 15 years.

“Don’t find fault with the IMF for denying the much required second tranche of USD 330 mn. The SJB-led Opposition, including SLPP rebels, shouldn’t seek political mileage over the setback suffered by bankrupt Sri Lanka as all of them were responsible,” de Silva said.

Commenting on statements issued by the government and Opposition in the wake of the IMF imposing a fresh condition by way of a staff-level agreement before the release of the second tranche, Lacille de Silva said the government and the Opposition should be ashamed of their responses. The Opposition responded as if a sharp and unacceptable drop in revenue collection was caused by the UNP-SLPP coalition, de Silva said, urging the Parliament to address the issues at hand or face further deterioration.

Noting that lawmaker Aluthgamage, too, had served the cabinet over a period of time therefore couldn’t absolve himself of culpability for the developing economic crisis, de Silva said party leaders should act on the SLPPer’s accusations. Pointing out that President Ranil Wickremesinghe serves as the Finance Minister, de Silva stressed that he should address the issues raised by the IMF and Aluthgamage.