(Lanka-e-News - 27.Nov.2015, 10.00 PM) After Lanka e news revealed that the vehicle emission test fee was raised to Rs. 5000.00 ( four fold more than before) , in order to increase four fold also the annual collection ( extortion monies)of many millions of rupees that are siphoned off to Sirisena and family Co. through Laugfs of Wegapitiya , the minister of finance announced in parliament that this levy only applies to vehicles with four wheels, and not to three wheelers and motorcycles.
Though this seems to give some relief , what the people are demanding from the finance minister is much more than that- a more reasonable downward revision. Initially , this rate may be raised by about 20 % , and not to raise it most unconscionably four fold – by about 400 % , the public urge.
Secondly , the revenue the government collects from this levy is only a small 10 %. This means the country is not gaining from this levy economically. Hence this increase shall be immediately halted , and the 70 % share the government is getting be revised.
Thirdly, when a vehicle is taken out from the Port , all the taxes and levies in respect of it are paid at provincial council level. Hence this can be revised because this concerns the income of the provincial council.
It is common knowledge even before the increase to Rs. 5000.00 ,the present emission test levy of Rs. 1200.00 in SL is excessive when compared with that in India . Herein is a photograph of a car emission test certificate issued in Bangalore , India dated October 6 th. The fee is Rs. 125.00 only which In SL Rs. Is 268.75
Hence the colossal extra payments that have been amassed by Wegapitiya and Akbars for services already which can be obtained in India for just Rs. 270.00 per vehicle , is more than enough to them . By these payments to Wegapitiya and Akbar , the people are not gaining a cent. It is only Wegapitiya and Akbar who have lined their pockets at the expense of the people by charging prohibitive fees . It is unjust enrichment to the detriiment of the nation.
In the circumstances , what the people are demanding is , if the government is unable to carry out these services , the next best thing it can do is hand it over to India , for a certificate can be obtained in that case at Rs. 300.00 which is even lesser than the present levy of Rs. 1200.00 in SL , by Rs. 900.00
Let us all bear this in mind , this was a government that was elected by the people to bring about a change for the benefit of the people and not for family companies to earn at country’s expense , so that the rackets and perfidies of the previous Rajapakse brothers company shall be averted once and for all . Hence , if the Sirisena and family Company are not to repeat what the Rajapakse brothers Co. engaged in , then this emission testing certificate levy which is in fact an ‘extortion’ payment (kappam)collected from the vehicle users must be withdrawn unconditionally.
---------------------------
by (2015-11-27 16:36:42)
Read 47214 Times
Leave a Reply
1 discussion on this news
If the govt is telling us the truth that 90 per cent of the fee goes to govt coffers, let the govt charge only the existing fee and charge the new extra amount at annual registration where RMV will recover the tax and credit to govt coffers.
-- by Patriot on 2015-12-04
