🏛️ 17 Pasikudah Hotels Accused of Evasion on Local Taxes

ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam has called on the Auditor General, Tourism Ministry, and SLTDA to investigate 17 hotels in the Pasikudah tourism zone for allegedly failing to pay a mandatory 1% local authority levy under the Pradeshiya Sabha Act for several years. • Non-Payment Impact: The alleged non-compliance has deprived the local council of vital funds intended for regional infrastructure, public sanitation, and community services. • Sector Accountabilty: While tourism properties in Pasikudah were leased to major investors under post-war development programs, the MP stressed that no investor should be exempt from statutory local tax obligations, despite fulfilling SLTDA payments. • Regional Disparity: The MP highlighted that tourism development in the Northern and Eastern Provinces has suffered from inadequate budget allocations since 2018, despite high growth potential. • Governance Concerns: Issues were raised over a lack of transparency, unfulfilled information requests, and alleged non-cooperation by a local SLTDA official. Rasamanickam urged state authorities to recover all unpaid dues and pursue legal action against non-compliant parties.