The grouse against Manchanayake is that she was made permanent by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on a push given by staff head Gamini Senarath after she came in as acting Director General on June 28 last year following the retirement of Mallika Samarasekera.

It is said that a very senior staffer Kalyani Dahanayake is more and better qualified to fill the Commissioner General's post than Manchanayake.

A large majority of staffers at the Inland Revenue Department believe she orchestrated the move without the approval and knowledge of the Cabinet of Ministers.