(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – The Supreme Court today commenced the hearing of the petitions filed challenging the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill presented by the government.
The petitions will be heard before a three-member Supreme Court bench comprising justices Buwaneka Aluwihare, Murdu Fernando and Janak de Silva.
The petitions were filed at the Supreme Court seeking a ruling that the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill is in violation of the Constitution of Sri Lanka.
Starting the hearing of the petitions, the lawyers appearing for the petitioners have started presenting the facts.
The petitions have been submitted by the Association of High Court Judges, the Association of Judicial Officers of Sri Lanka and other citizens while the Attorney General has been named as the respondent.
The petitioners pointed out that through the proposed Bill, the decision to reduce the monthly income limit for which a person has to pay tax from Rs.250,000 to Rs.100,000 and many other clauses violate the fundamental rights of the people.
Therefore, the petitioners request the court to declare that if the relevant bill is to be passed, it must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote and a referendum.
