Friday Nov 15, 2024
Friday Nov 15, 2024
Friday, 28 October 2022 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Government’s taxation crusade to shore up much needed State revenue faced the first legal hurdle yesterday when a special petition was filed with the Supreme Court challenging the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill that was added to the Parliament agenda last week.
The petition was filed by Athula Saranga Ranaweera, a General Manager of a leading private company in Sri Lanka and seeks a determination from the Supreme Court that the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill is inconsistent with the constitution of the country.
The petitioner has named the Attorney General as the respondent.
The petitioner claims that if the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill is passed it would cause grave injustice to the professionals and the general public.
Therefore, the petitioner is seeking a Supreme Court determination on the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill stating that clauses 15, 16, 22, 29,36, and 39 must be removed from the Bill or a Special Majority is required in Parliament for the passage of the Bill.
The petition was filed through Attorneys H.M. Thilakaratne, Kanishka Witharana and Savane Rajakaruna.
Main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) too was scheduled to challenge the Inland Revenue Amendment Bill yesterday but it had been apparently deferred.
However SJB Colombo District MP S.M. Marikkar on Wednesday said his party will work towards defeating the Government’s proposed tax reforms.
He said the party would vote against the proposed tax hikes in Parliament. “As representatives of the people, we cannot vote for these exorbitant tax hikes when the price of goods has increased significantly. We will not vote for these proposed tax percentages,” he said.
“When Gotabaya Rajapaksa reduced taxes, we pointed out that this was an incorrect decision and that it would negatively affect the economy. Therefore, the SJB believes taxes must be increased. But any increase must be fair and reasonable,” he said.
