News
Manohara asks whether SC is being pressurised over ETB
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Manohara de Silva, PC, says that President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s unprecedented criticism of the Supreme Court should be examined against the backdrop of the controversial ‘Economic Transformation Bill’ (ETB) pending before the apex court.
“The President’s warning may have a chilling effect on the judiciary,” de Silva said, emphasising the responsibility on the part of the legislature to thwart the executive’s agenda.
Commenting on President Wickremesinghe’s proposal to establish a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to review the SC’s determination on the ‘Gender Equality Bill,’ de Silva said that the UNP leader couldn’t proceed unless the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) agreed to abide by the move.
The top constitutional lawyer said that in the wake of the SC directive in respect of a case against the postponement of Local Government polls in early 2023, some members of the government talked about summoning judges before parliamentary Ethics and Privileges committee. That was part of their strategy, de Silva said, declaring that the apparent bid to pressure SC over its determination on ‘Gender Equality Bill’ could cause irreparable damage.
Nearly 20 petitions had been filed against the ETB, and therefore the powers that be were making an effort to facilitate the process, leading to the enactment of that contentious piece of legislation, the President’s Counsel said.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted at their meeting held on 19.05.2025 in order to introduce amendments to the Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017 including the proposed tax revisions to enhance the tax structure paving way for state financial integrity based on revenue.
Accordingly, the revised draft bill has been prepared by the legal draftsman and clearance of the Attorney General has been received.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for
the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Policy Planning and Economic Development to publish the aforementioned draft bill in the government gazette notification and subsequently, forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
The National Mineral Policy was prepared for the first time in the year 1999, and the aforementioned policy has been amended in 2023 to cover matters such as preparing an updated data system related to mineral resources, adding value to the export of minerals, encouraging mineral-related industrialists, extracting mineral resources and managing the environment sustainably, and resolving the issues related to the ownership of the land arising in extracting mineral resources.
The revised National Mineral Policy has been reupdated in line with the manifesto “A Sustainable Resource Utilization – Generation of the Highest Benefit” under the policy statement of the current government” A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life.”
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the Minister of Industries and
Entrepreneurship to implement the so-formulated “National Mineral Policy—2026.”
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Amendment of the Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017
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