University Teachers challenge the proposed Inland Revenue Bill

Sabaragamuwa University Teachers Association today filed a Special Determination petition in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the proposed Inland Revenue Bill. This bill was placed on the Order Paper of Parliament on 21st October. The University Teachers Association and two senior lecturers filed this petition, which included relevant materials. This is in order to illustrate how they would be affected by the proposed changes in the tax regime by the proposed Bill. The petitioners allege that the provisions of the Bill dramatically increase the tax burden on members of their Association. This is because they cause a severe and deleterious impact on academic staff members of the Universities of Sri Lanka. The petitioners further state that the proposed changes to the tax regime would drastically impact public officials, including high-ranking public servants, 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. Thus, the petitioners seek a declaration that the bill in whole or in part requires approval by the people in a referendum and a two-thirds 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.