News
Debate on VAT Bill: Parliament session adjourned
By Saman indrajith
Parliament session allotted for the Second Reading debate on the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill and the Finance Bill were put off yesterday for want of a quorum.
The debate was scheduled to be held from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm as decided in the Committee on Parliamentary Business, chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, on Nov 20.
State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya moved the House for the debate on the VAT (Amendment) Bill. He said that VAT would be imposed on 97 out of the 138 goods that had previously been exempt from the tax in a bid to boost state revenue. He said Short Message Service (SMS) in fixed telephone networks would also be subjected to VAT, given the increased number of text messages sent. Medicines, equipment used by disabled persons, rice flour, wheat flour, vegetables, fruits, liquid milk, and the ‘Suwaseriya’ ambulance service would not be subjected to VAT, the State Minister said.
However, as the debate was in progress, Kurunegala District SJB MP Nalin Bandara, pointed out that there was no quorum in the House. He accused the government of trying to hoodwink the due process in passing the VAT bill. The MP said that there weren’t 20 MPs in the 225-member House and as such it was wrong to continue the debate without the quorum.
State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe said that the vote on the bill was scheduled to be taken later in the evening and the government MPs would be there in the House on time for the vote and the debate could be continued.
Chief Opposition Whip Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella said the debate could not be held if documents with the relevant information were not available.
State Minister Semasinghe said two separate lists which included 300 items on which VAT was imposed and the list which included the items which are exempted were available. “You can find the list for which VAT will be imposed,” he said.
However, the Opposition MPs walked out at that moment.
Owing to protests from the Opposition, the Deputy Speaker decided to suspend the proceedings and ordered that the quorum bell be rung.
However, the number of the MPs who responded to the quorum bell was fewer than 20 when the count was taken after five minutes of the ringing of the quorum bell twice.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa took away his party MPs in protest against the proposal of increasing the VAT to 18 percent.The Deputy Speaker adjourned sittings until 9.30 this morning.
Parliament sources said that some SLPP MPs were opposed to the VAT increase therefore they were absent yesterday. They would continue to be absent this morning too, the sources said.
The last three days of the Committee Stage Debate of the budget will be held from Monday the 11th to Wednesday the 13th and the division on the third reading of the Appropriation Bill (Budget) for the financial year 2024 is scheduled to be held on the 13th at 6.00 pm.
News
Ministerial committee appointed to review and further enhance ‘State Commercial Enterprises Management draft bill’
It has been recognized that the state enterprises should be re – structured and maintained with proper administration with the assistance of local or foreign investments without being a continuous burden to the General Treasury and the country’s economy. Therefore, it is the policy of the new government to introduce an efficient and accountable mechanism in the regard. An initial draft named “State Commercial Enterprises Management Draft Bill” has been already prepared to introduce a new legal framework required for maintaining after performing necessary restructuring and with proper management of government owned business companies. Thereon, it will be possible to totally free the state entrepreneurship establishments from political influences and appoint professionals with proficiency for its board of directors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development to grant policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for the said initial draft and appoint a special committee with the following composition to submit appropriate proposals for further enhancing after reviewing the initial draft:
• Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour and the Deputy Minister of Economic Development – (Chairman)
• Hon. Sunil Handunneththi Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship
• Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co – operative Development
• Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Sooriyapperuma Deputy Minister of Finance Plan Implementation
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to appoint Thilak Nandana Hettiarachchi, a special grade officer in Sri Lanka Administrative Service who served in the post of Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Buddha Shasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, to the post of Commissioner General of Official Languages with immediate effect.
News
Cabinet gives green light for the introduction of new laws and amendment of existing acts in regard to the subject area of the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Facilities
As revising the existing acts and formulation of new acts within the year of 2025 has been recognized as a necessity, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the proposal furnished by the Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Facilities to include introduction of the following new laws and amendment of acts to the government laws formulation programme for the year 2025.
• Amendment of Tea, Rubber and Coconut Estates (Control of Fragmentation) Act No. 2 of 1958
• Amendment of Samumyamoothi Thandaman Memorial Foundation Act No. 19 of 2005
• Amendment of Tea Shakthi Fund Act No. 47 of 2000
• Amendment of Tea Control Act No. 51 of 1957
• Amendment of Rubber Control Act No. 11 of 1956
• Introduction of a new act named Plantation Management Act
• Introduction of a new act to entrust the Department of Rubber Development with powers of the Thurusaviya Societies.
• Introduction of amendments to Coconut Development Act No. 46 of 1971 so that new regulations can be included to the act
• Amendments related to Tea Board Act No 14 of 1975 and regulations
Ministerial committee appointed to review and further enhance ‘State Commercial Enterprises Management draft bill’
Thilak Nandana Hettiarachchi appointed Commissioner General of Official Languages
Cabinet gives green light for the introduction of new laws and amendment of existing acts in regard to the subject area of the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Facilities
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