The IRD trade unions on Thursday charged the government that it failed to take action against the Inland Revenue Chief who he is accused of taking arbitrary decisions and vat scam. A joint committee of Trade Unions of the IRD at a press conference demanded of the President and the Finance Secretary to take immediate action against people involved in the VAT scam, which the trade union leaders claimed to be one of the biggest frauds in South East Asia.

Based on a report by the Auditor General, the Public Accounts Committee carried out a ten-month long investigation into the fraud and recommended to remove the incumbent IRD Chief A.A. Wijepala.

“We still don’t understand as to why the government has not taken action against the Tax Chief even after PAC gave its decision on this matter. When the scam took place the present Tax Chief was the VAT Chief making him directly responsible for the misappropriation of funds but mysteriously he is still in charge of the Department,” TU committee secretary Ajith Pushpakuamra said.

Mr. Wijepala is also accused of taking arbitrary decisions regarding promotions and transfers of the employees and in administrative activities in the Department.

“At present administrative affairs related decisions in the department are being taken without consulting other senior officers and being implemented in arbitrary manner violating laws of the department. He said even the tax paying procedure had also been made more complicated for the people”, an associate secretary of the committee said.

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