Single Monitoring Unit for revenue generation : IRD, Excise, Customs TUs positive of linking up information systems

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana

Amidst temporary decision to take a step back from protesting against the proposed Sri Lanka Revenue Authority Bill (SLRA), the joint trade unions of the government’s three revenue generating wings, the Inland Revenue Department, Excise Department and Sri Lanka Customs are positive of linking up their information systems for a smooth operation in future.

The joint trade unions of the Department of Inland Revenue and the Department of Excise are currently working on preparing their own proposals to upgrade the information systems and link them up in the future to set up a Single Monitoring Unit for the revenue generation work.

When contacted a spokesperson for the Excise joint trade unions told the Daily Mirror yesterday that they positively welcome the change to be made to the technology in their departments as proposed through the SLRA Bill.“Although we have questions about the composition of the governing body of the proposed revenue authority, we believe the current technology should be upgraded and the systems should be linked up for a smoother operation.

For an example presently it is difficult to monitor the amount of ethanol that enters the country through the Customs and then be delivered to liquor manufacturing plants under the observation of Excise and to gather the amount of revenue generated through invoices,” the spokesperson said.

Excise Joint Trade Union Secretary Nirosh Jayakody said that even the leaders of the opposition including Sajith Premadasa, Anura Kumara Dissanayaka and Patali Champika Ranawaka have asked them to come with their proposal to enhance the prevailing systems to link the three revenue generating wings of the Ministry of Finance.“We understand that even what the IMF requires is to establish a single monitoring unit for the revenue and currently our joint trade unions are working on drafting a set of proposals, which will be discussed with the Inland Revenue and Customs trade unions,” Jayakody said.When contacted Secretary Inland Revenue Staff Officers Association J T Chandana said that they had been pointing out the importance of upgrading the technology pertaining to collecting tax revenue and linking up the systems of these departments, for a long time. “Especially tax revenue monitoring information systems like the ASYCUDA of the Customs (Automated System for Customs Data) and RAMIS of the IRD (Revenue Administration Information System) should be linked up for better service in the future,” Chandana said.