28 July 2021 08:48 am Views - 102
The Supreme Court yesterday re-fixed for today (28), the hearing into several Special Determination (SD) petitions filed challenging the constitutionality of the Finance Bill. These petitions will be heard before a three-judge bench comprising Justice Priyantha Jayawardena, Justice Kumuduni Wickremasinghe and Justice Shiran Goonaratne today at 10 am.
Ten petitions have been filed so far against the Finance Bill which was placed on the order paper of Parliament on July 29. They are; Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, SJB Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne, JVP former Parliamentarian Sunil Handunneththi, former Deputy Secretary of the Ceylon Bank Employees Union (CBEU) Ekeshwara Kottegoda Vithana, former UNP Parliamentarian Saman Rathnapriya, Nagananda Kodituwakku, Centre for Policy Alternatives and three others.
The petitioners are seeking a declaration that the Bill in whole or in part requires the approval by people at a Referendum and requires a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
The Petitioners alleged that the purpose of the said Bill is to extend immunity and immunity on the persons who have defrauded different kinds of taxes due under the revenue laws.
BLURB
The Petitioners alleged that the purpose of the said Bill is to extend immunity and immunity on the persons who have defrauded different kinds of taxes due under the revenue laws