28 October 2022 02:37 pm Views - 3272
Sabaragamuwa University Teachers Association today filed a Special Determination petition in Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the proposed Inland Revenue Bill which is placed on the order Paper of Parliament on 21st of October.
The University Teachers Association and two senior lecturers filed this petition annexing relevant materials in order to illustrate how they would be affected by the proposed changes in the tax regime by the proposed Bill.
The petitioners alleged that the provisions of the Bill dramatically increase the tax burden on the members of their Association and cause a severe and deleterious impact on the academic staff members of the Universities of Sri Lanka. The petitioners further state that the proposed changes in the tax regime would drastically impact the public officers specially, high-ranked public servant, Judges and officers of the Hon. Attorney General’s Department.
The petitioners are of the view that the proposed Inland Revenue Bill in its entirety or any provisions of the Bill are inconsistent with the Constitution. Therefore, the petitioners are seeking a declaration that the bill in whole or in part thereby requires the approval by people at a referendum and requires a two-third majority in Parliament.
Sabaragamuwa University Teachers Association, Senior Lecturers Hasintha Rangana Wijesekera attached to the Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Naleen Indika Pussella attached to the Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, Faculty of Geomatics filed this petition through Attorney-at-Law Manjula Balasooriya.(Lakmal Sooriyagoda)