News: Finance Ministry clearance sought to waive tax on aid

Home News Photos News Videos News Cartoons News Blogs RSS

Home > Help and Aid > Finance Ministry clearance sought to waive tax on aid

Finance Ministry clearance sought to waive tax on aid

After being stranded at the port facing a series of barriers to its release to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), the 884 tons of aid sent through the controversial Captain Ali ship might be finally on its way to be distributed.

Saturday, Oct 03, 2009 | 623 Views | Comments [View/Post]

A written waiver for the taxes from the Finance Ministry is the only thing that is holding the IDP aid back, from being distributed among the IDP’s, Mr. Surein Peiris, Deputy Director General of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) told Daily Mirror.

 

This was after an amount of approx 2 million rupees was taxed on the cargo for the duration of July to September by the Port authority which consisted of Valued Added Tax (VAT) and the Nation Building Tax (NBT).

 

SLRCS had requested for a waiver of the amount from the relevant authorities as the goods were for the benefit of the IDP’s and not for the SLRCS. Last Monday the Ministry of Nation Building & Development had informed the Treasury to waive the tax amount so that the goods can be released from the port to the Red Cross.

 

But when contacted by the SLRCS, the Ports Authority had stated that they were still awaiting the written clearance for the taxes from the Finance Ministry, and that they will discharge the cargo as soon as they receive the written waiver.

 

Mr. Surein Peiris further stated that the distribution plans for the aid were already in place and the containers ready to transport the aid as soon as it’s released from the port.


Comment on this article
Guidelines: You must register with a social media account such as Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, etc. to comment on this story. Click on the "Login" button below to choose your login account of choice. We welcome your thoughts, but this is not an open forum. For the sake of all readers, please refrain from the use of obscenities, personal attacks or racial slurs. All comments must remain on topic and cyber bullying will not be tolerated. All comments are subject to our terms of service. Comments that do not comply may be removed. Repeat offenders will lose commenting privileges.
News Other Language
World News
Movie News
Information
Travel News