The President’s Office at Parliament has initiated a project to open tax files for all MPs of the ruling party before the year’s end. About 30 MPs who had not previously established their tax files have now done so under this program, Sources from the President’s office said.
Implemented by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), spearheaded by President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake and supervised by Presidential Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs, Ashu Marasinghe, the project involves summoning all ruling party members to the President’s Office of the Parliament and officials from the IRD advising MPs on how to prepare tax files and address deficiencies in the files of those already maintaining them.
With a deadline set for completion before December 30 , MPs maintaining tax files have already presented and resolved issues. Prof. Marasinghe articulated the program’s objective, expressing hope that all ruling party members will provide accurate asset and liability statements and maintain comprehensive tax files.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe envisions this initiative as a means to disclose the genuine income of all MPs, aiming for them to be exemplary citizens in paying income tax. Amidst accusations from society that ruling party members have evaded taxes, the program also seeks to dispel such charges by ensuring transparency in their financial disclosures.
