AN OPEN LETTER TO MR PATHUM KERNER.

Dear Mr Kerner,

I may have watched many of your videos on social media platforms and they were very compelling.

Your efforts to extricate the Sri Lankan mindset from the old and failed socialist perspective are commendable.

An open market economy is something that I too endorse, as I have seen and enjoyed the benefits of such a system.

Setting up a task force to educate the needy about the benefits of the market economy in cities and in villages is an urgent priority.

Let the market forces control everything and not any government authority.

The government should only take care of a few things.

The national security, monetary, health, education and formulation of national standards should be in government control and the rest should be detached from the government control.

One thing I have not seen you talking about is setting up a big and independent income tax office.

Perhaps I was wrong that I may have missed a video in which you expressed your views on the issue.

A big and independent tax office with sweeping powers is a must to curtail corruption in this country.

Make it mandatory for everyone eligible to vote to submit their income tax yearly.

Recruit capable investigators with science backgrounds, preferably with mathematics as a subject in their undergraduate degree, and analytical skills.

One should not try to reinvent the wheel, and there is software already to detect false reporting without any human intervention.

All banks and other financial institutions, land and motor vehicle registries, stock exchanges, and many other such entities where ill-gotten wealth can be easily hidden should be linked to the income tax authority.

It is time to work out a system where the big tax office can have access to all the entities above and troll their databases for any unusual but not reported financial activities, but without being a hindrance to their own daily activities and or being overly intrusive.

Adopt the best available procurement methodology for all future dealings.

Do away with the current import/export licenses and restrictions.

Anyone who can fulfil the national standards and requirements should be able to import and/or export without any hindrance.

With all the other plans you have in the works, the country will undoubtedly change for the better.

I wish you luck and a brighter future for everyone.

An Open Letter to Mr Rohan Pallewatta.