News

COPF approves 4 Gazettes

Published

2 years ago

October 25, 2022

editor

Five Gazettes to be presented to Parliament for approval were considered in the Committee on Public Finance recently and approval was obtained for four gazettes.

This approval was given after an analysis of the relevant Gazettes at the Committee on Public Finance which met recently (20) under the chairmanship of Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, Member of Parliament.

Thus, the approval of the Committee was obtained for Gazette No. 2282/26, which is stipulated under the Value Added Tax Act No. 14 of 2002 as amended by Act No. 6 of 2005. This Gazette was published in relation to increasing the value added tax (VAT) to 12%.

The regulation under the Excise Ordinance published under the Extra Ordinary Gazette No. 2277/62 was also considered here. This Gazette had been imposed in relation to charging a tax of Rs. 50 for a liter of toddy. The said Gazette received the approval of the Committee.

The regulation under the Finance Act No. 25 of 2003 published under the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2272/53 was also considered and approved at the Committee. This Gazette was published to reduce the fee charged to each person departing from Ratmalana Airport to an amount of USD 30.

Furthermore, under the Foreign Exchange Act No. 12 of 2017, the order published under the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2296/12 was considered at the Committee. Its purpose is to increase the period of 24 months to 36 months mentioned in the order of the Gazette No. 2234/19 published on June 30th, 2021. The officials also pointed out that this decision was taken with the aim of expanding the market for local products as recommended by the Ministry of Industries. But since the foreign exchange spent for the import of these goods is relatively low and the market lack of these goods as well as the increase in price cannot be borne by the common people, it was discussed in the committee that it is not appropriate to control the imports. Accordingly, it was decided to discuss this further at a future meeting.

The committee pointed out to the relevant officials the need to quickly refer these Gazettes for approval.

Minister Hon. Nalin Fernando, State Minister Hon. (Dr.) Suren Raghavan, Members of Parliament Hon. Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Hon. Mayantha Dissanayake, Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna and Hon. (Prof) Ranjith Bandara were present at this Committee meeting held.

News

Bill suspending Parate Law, passed

Published

3 hours ago

May 7, 2024

editor

The Recovery of Loans by Banks (Special Provisions) (Amendment) Bill, which was amended to facilitate legal provisions for the suspension of Parate Law until December 15, 2024, was passed in Parliament without amendments today (May 07).

This amendment introduces legal provisions for the suspension of the Parate Law until December 15, 2024.

News

Mervyn granted bail

Published

3 hours ago

May 7, 2024

editor

Colombo Additional Magistrate Tharanga Mahawatta today (May 07) ordered the release of former Minister Mervyn Silva on bail over the SLRC assault incident in 2007.

He was ordered to be released on a surety of Rs. 500,000.

Silva was accused of threatening and assaulting a former journalist of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation.

The Magistrate also ordered to immediately arrest former municipal councillor – Lal Peiris, who was named as the third suspect in the case, and produce him before the court.

The Magistrate also banned him from travelling overseas.

(Source : Lankadeepa)

News

Appeals Court rejects Wijeyadasa’s petition against interim order

Published

4 hours ago

May 7, 2024

editor

The Court of Appeal today dismissed the petition filed by Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe seeking to suspend the interim injunction issued by the Colombo District Court preventing him from functioning as the Acting Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe was appointed as the Acting Chairman of SLFP during an executive committee meeting held on April 21, by the party’s faction led by former President Maithripala Sirisena.

On April 24, the Colombo District Court issued an injunction order preventing Minister Wijeyadasa from functioning as the Acting Chairman of the SLFP.

The court has also issued an injunction order preventing MP Sarathie Dushmantha Mithrapala from functioning as the General Secretary of SLFP.

Meanwhile, the court had issued another injunction preventing the implementation of the decisions taken by the SLFP Acting General Secretary.

The Colombo District Judge issued these injunctions after considering a plaint submitted by Ministers Mahinda Amaraweera, Lasantha Alagiyawanna and Member of Parliament Duminda Dissanayake.

It was mentioned in the order that these injunctions will remain in effect until May 08, 2024.

However, Minister Rajapakshe had later filed a petition with the Court of Appeal seeking to invalidate the recent order issued by the Colombo District Court preventing him from functioning as the Acting Chairman of SLFP.

(adaderana.lk)

(This story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)