The violation by an influential section of the public sector of the Treasury regulations pertaining to PAYE (Pay as You Earn) tax is expected to be one of the issues to be taken up at meeting of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) scheduled for Jan. 17.
Sources said that the meeting would take place at the parliament complex, with the focus on a damning report submitted by the 31-member COPE on Dec. 1, 2011. Secretaries to Ministries would attend the meeting along with presidential secretary, Lalith Weeratunga, Senior Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama and Treasury Chief Dr. P. B. Jayasundera, sources said.
The Island yesterday revealed that workers of four public enterprises had been given special increments since 2003. Those public enterprises, both in the service and the banking sector, considered the payment of PAYE tax of their employees as a loss, sources said.
During a UPFA party leaders’ meeting chaired by President Mahinda Rajapaksa this week, General Secretary of the LSSP and COPE chief, Minister Dew Gunasekera stressed the need to restore financial discipline and accountability in the public sector. He cited huge salary increases given to CEB, CPC, SLPA and National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) employees and a section of public enterprises paying PAYE tax of their employees to highlight deterioration of financial discipline.
The Island: