Last week certain investigations were commenced on savings and income of certain public figures. A lot of individuals started to criticise the initiative stating that the country has more important issues than this to address. This is an important step because at the moment the country is facing the gravest ever financial crisis in the history and the people are facing high taxation. Therefore all `hidden money’, `black money’ etc and all invisible income generating avenues of all Sri Lankans, especially rich people need to be exposed in the name of justice for all ordinary Sri Lankans who earn money by working hard and paying tax.
Maligakanda Magistrate Manjula Thilakaratne granted permission to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to obtain the records of 19 accounts belonging to a popular public figure following allegations that this specific individual has acquired substantial properties through organised crime.
These accounts are held across a number of leading banks in the country. The investigation focuses on allegations that this public figure has acquired significant assets, including a Range Rover valued at Rs. 80 million and a residential property worth Rs. 148 million in Colombo, through organised criminal activities conducted clandestinely.
The investigation is aimed at uncovering the source of funds deposited into this specific public figure’s multiple bank accounts over a short period, suspected to be connected to illegal earnings.
This is NOT the only such case here in Sri Lanka. There are many other similar cases. But the issue is no individual or organisation come forward to file cases against them. Therefore those rich individuals live happily without any issue. Maybe those rich individuals pay ransom to certain individuals and organisations in order to prevent them from filing cases which lead to expose their real wealth and hidden (most of the time illegal) income generating avenues. Following this method, those rich individuals earn more and more illegal money and live happily with their legal families and mistresses etc without any problem.
Black money includes all funds earned through illegal activity and otherwise legal income that is not recorded for tax purposes. Higher amounts of black money in the economy often lead to increased corruption. On the other hand, black money can reduce the negative impact of oppressive laws. Unfortunately typical Sri Lankans believe that it is ONLY politicians who are involved in money laundering.
The ordinary people who work hard and pay tax are willing to provide information in connection with various rich individuals who became rich by overnight and who lead luxurious lives without working and without running any business. But the issue is those ordinary people do not like to invite unnecessary trouble. So they never complain against their neighbours and other known individuals.
They exactly know if they provide information to relevant authorities, there is a high possibility for them to get killed by an unidentified gunman or a some type of disaster will arrive at their door step on the following day or with the time being. The ordinary people of this country has already witnessed thousands of incidents via television news telecasts at night how innocent ordinary people get killed and their entire families destroyed for doing nothing. Sometimes criminals destroy entire families for the suspicion of providing information to the law enforcement authorities. But those were only suspicions and no evidence found by the criminals to prove it. The end result is one or more family members get killed by unidentified gunmen.
Under this situation only powerful individuals with backing of various powerful organisations come forward and file cases against rich individuals who had become rich by overnight and who cannot show their income generating avenues.
The ordinary people/witnesses who need protection should be educated on the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act, No. 10 of. 2023. They can contact the state body via phone, email, fax, mail etc. It is located in the first Floor, 428/ 11A, Denzil Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Battaramulla. Letters can be posted to the National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses First Floor, 428/ 11A, Denzil Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Battaramulla. More publicity should be given by media for the protection available for witnesses in order to strengthen people’s confidence on available legal provisions to ensure their safety.
The other issue is not paying tax and loans by various rich business tycoons. This has become a hot topic for all opposition political parties and this has become one of their popular promises. They say they catch thieves ! This promise and slogan can be completely and permanently removed if all relevant authorities can make those rich business tycoons pay loans and taxes according to the law of the land and publicize their payments once made. This is the only way of building confidence in tax and loan paying ordinary people.
There are various name and company lists circulating in various social media platforms and people believe such information no matter whether they are true or lies. No individual or a company has issued any statement rejecting those allegations leveled against them through social media posts. Therefore people believe whatever appears in social media.
There are minor and unnoticed but powerful actions that can be taken by the relevant authorities to change people’s mindsets towards positivity.
