LankaBuzz

I was just wondering. How many ministers and deputy ministers and what nots are there ? Let say 300 for example.

Out of this nearly all of them drive monteros or a vehicle that consumes the most amount of fuel and is expensive.

so we have 300 monteros. Lets say a liter of petrol costs 100 bucks.
a montero has a tank of 80 liters. On that 80 liters it runs about 400Km more or less.

lets assume the petrol is refilled every 3 days

for one montero, filled once costs 100x80=8000 rupees
so for the month, filled 10 times(30/3) costs 8000x10=80,000

am I right ?

so for the 300 vehicles for the month it comes to
80,000x300 = 24,000,000 per month on fuel

now as we know most of these ministers have more than one vehicle, one for the wife, one for the son, one for the daughter and one brother, one for the brother-in-law, one for the nephew and so on

so lets assume each of them have on average 4 vehicles, the kids need to show their friends they have a cool car, and it has loads of power, and the wife has to show her friends at hilton her husband has given her the best car, and so on.

so we’ll follow the same formula, let’s assume they all got monetros or a skylines, or a jags or bms

24,000,000x4=96,000,000 a month for all minister vehicles

let’s break it down for one
96,000,000 / 300 = 320,000 per minister per month for fuel for whole family

now we need to include the convoy vehicles

let’s put an average of 3 vehicles, these we’ll put a diesel something
let’s assume 5000 for fuel per tank and it’s filled twice a week
5,000 x 10 = 50,000 per vehicle per month

then for all three vehicles 50,000 x 3 = 150,000 per convoy per minister

so the total per minster for all vehicles per month comes to

320,000 + 150,000 = 470,000 rupees

is that ok ?

now lets take all of them together

470,000 x 300 ======
RUPEES 141,000,000 per month on fuel for ministers

or lets divide by 100 for US dollars

====
1,410,000 US DOLLARS per month on fuel for ministers

1.4 Million US Dollars on fuel per month for ministers

I’m no math whiz nor am I a policy whiz I could be wrong, so please correct me if I am. Are these correct or have I gone way off ?

I would like to know the actual amount. Our tax rupees cover these or don’t they ?

If my thinking is incorrect please correct me.

Thank you

Dinesh

Private sector employees are said to be better paid than State employees and are liable to pay Income Tax; but not apparently, the less paid, State employees.

Is this the actual situation? Is their salaries the only remuneration they are entitled to?

This is a myth when one takes into consideration the other benefits they are entitled to besides their salaries such as rent allowance, three railway warrants for them - their wives and children; fifty two days leave in all, and now an enhanced living allowance up to Rs. 2,100 and a pension to boot after retirement.

This is not all, they are entitled to overtime now, even exceeding their monthly salary, not to speak of being paid when they go on strike at the drop of a hat; the unethical sick note campaigns! Work to rule with full pay, which, any case is not followed while attending to private matters during office hours.

There is of course another source of hidden income except for a few, their palms having to be oiled for anything to be got done.

It must be remembered that there was a time when public officers paid Income Tax when Dr. N. M. Perera was the Finance Minister and T. B. Ilangaratne was a Cabinet Minister, both Trade Union leaders.

It was only after politics crept into the public service and politicians were more interested in gathering votes than service to public that payment of Income Tax was abolished; and what is more, Government regulations were openly flouted and the already corrupt practices became the rule.

Thus, this discrimination between them and all others began.

What is suggested is that there be a level playing field. Everybody who by law is expected to pay this tax should pay it. (I wonder whether this would precipitate a general strike)

Anyhow, it is hoped that public sector employees will take this in good spirit and would not mind that small percentage of their emoluments being taxed and feel proud and grateful.

Repaying in some small measure mostly the poor who provided them with a free education and that the Minister of Finance will boldly take up this challenge!

Tissa Amarasekera - Kandy.
http://www.dailynews.lk/2006/08/07/main_Letters.asp